Kadey Krogen Whaleback Interior Boat Tour: Discover the Hidden Charms

Ready for an inside look at our boat, Wildflower?

She’s a 48-foot Kadey Krogen Whaleback trawler—and more than just a boat, she’s our second home. I’m taking you on a full interior tour today, complete with before-and-after peeks and the story of how we brought her back to life.

If you love cozy spaces, clever storage, or just a good transformation story with a nautical twist, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

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Finding Wildflower: The Search for Our Forever Boat

Before Wildflower, we had a 40-foot cabin cruiser and spent plenty of long weekends exploring the San Juan Islands. But eventually… it got a little cramped. We had three dogs at the time (including our big yellow lab, Charlie, who basically claimed half the floor), and I was dealing with knee and foot issues, making stairs less than ideal.

Midway through a three-week cruise, we looked at each other and said, “Yep. It’s time.” That same day, we started boat shopping.

When we discovered the Kadey Krogen Whaleback, it felt like the answer. The layout was mostly on one level, which made everything so much easier to move around in.

The only stairs are the steep ones up to the pilot house—and honestly, we mostly go up there when we’re underway or for sunset cocktails. Not a bad trade-off.

The Beginning: Our Whaleback’s Story

So there we were, mid-vacation in the San Juans, when we spotted a Kadey Krogen Whaleback for sale. We were so excited, we actually cut our trip short and cruised straight to the Seattle marina to see her in person.

Let’s just say… she had potential.

The bones were solid, but the boat definitely needed some love. More than we were ready to take on at the time. So, as hard as it was, we walked away.

Here’s the catch: only 29 of these Whalebacks were ever built. And this was the only one on the market in the Pacific Northwest. She stuck in our minds.

A few months passed. She was still on the market. So we decided to make an offer—one that reflected the amount of work we thought she’d need. To our surprise, it was accepted.

Of course, it turns out we vastly underestimated how much work that really was. Three years of projects later… here we are. But we truly believe this boat was meant to be ours. And now? We can’t imagine life without her.

Let’s Name Her Wildflower

Once the boat was officially ours, it was time for the fun part—naming her.

You might think we called her Wildflower because of my love for gardening and blooms (and you wouldn’t be totally wrong). But the real inspiration came from one of our favorite songs: “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty.

The lyrics just hit home:

“You belong among the wildflowers.
You belong on a boat out at sea.
You belong with your love on your arm.
You belong somewhere you feel free.” —Tom Petty

How perfect is that?

The name felt like a blend of everything we love—freedom, nature, the sea, and home. And now, Wildflower fits her just right.

The Interior Boat Tour: Bringing Our Vision to Life

When we first bought Wildflower, she had great bones and was strong, seaworthy, and full of potential. But let’s just say… she wasn’t exactly cozy.

The galley was dated, the layout felt a little closed-off, and the overall vibe didn’t reflect the comfortable, cottage-meets-coastal feel we had in mind for our floating home.

So we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

We mapped out every space and started dreaming up ways to make Wildflower feel more like “us.” Over the course of three years (yes, three), we slowly renovated the interior—bit by bit—focusing on updates that were both beautiful and practical.

Now, most of the big projects are finally checked off the list. So let’s take a peek at how it all came together, starting with the galley.

The Galley

Let’s kick off this interior boat tour in the galley because this is where the biggest transformation happened (and where the coffee lives, so it deserves some respect).

Before

When we bought Wildflower, the galley felt disconnected from the rest of the living space. The bar area between the kitchen and dining nook was raised, blocking the view.

And the appliances? Let’s just say they’d seen better decades.

Demolition & Prep

We started by cutting down the bar to open things up and removed the (non-structural) support pole that divided the space.

Out came the old countertops and appliances, making way for the new vision to take shape.

Quartz and Appliance Shopping Adventures

Shopping for quartz was one of the more fun parts of this process. (I mean, who doesn’t love picking countertops?) We chose a beautiful slab that was strong enough to handle the marine environment and still looked dreamy.

Getting the new range on board was… not quite as dreamy. It took three guys to haul it in. Dock days are always an adventure!

Installing the New Galley Features

We chose high-quality, marine-friendly materials that could handle life at sea and still feel like home.

The next project was installing the subway tile, which was done using flexible, thin-set mortar that would move with the boat and not crack.

The new microwave and refrigerator were installed after the cabinetry was cut to increase the space for the larger appliances. The range and new sink were next to be installed.

Sea rails create a rim around the countertop so nothing slides off the counter in rough weather. These were added after the counters were installed.

The Finished Space

This once-dated galley is now one of my favorite spots on the boat. It’s bright, open, functional, and has all the charm of a little coastal cottage kitchen, just with better views.

Enhancing the Living Area

Next up on the tour is the salon, aka our main living space, and one of the coziest corners of Wildflower.

We wanted this area to feel like a retreat after a long day on the water—somewhere to kick back with a good book, sip something cold, and enjoy the views. So we focused on both comfort and style.

One of our favorite additions? A storage ottoman from Pottery Barn that does double duty.

Not only does it give us extra seating when we have guests aboard, but it also hides away all the cocktail glasses, platters, and spare dishware we use when entertaining.

We also added new lighting and swapped in some coastal-inspired decor touches with soft textures, natural tones, and just a little hint of nautical charm.

Eating Area

This little nook is where I spend a lot of time, especially with my laptop open and coffee in hand.

The wood table folds out to make extra room when we’re dining or playing cards, and there’s so much storage underneath the built-in sectional. It’s basically a hidden treasure chest.

Also, can we talk about the ceiling for a second? It’s one of my favorite features on the boat. It’s a design element they no longer include on new builds (too expensive), so it makes our boat feel even more special.

Those double doors lead straight out to our cockpit—what we like to call the “back porch.”

Before we lowered the galley counter, you wouldn’t have even been able to see this dining area from the kitchen. The change made a huge difference in how open and connected everything feels now.

The Main Stateroom

Our main stateroom (aka the bedroom) needed to be as comfortable as possible, because after a long day on the water, you want a space that practically hugs you goodnight.

We updated the lighting throughout to make the space brighter and more functional, and added soft, layered bedding in soothing coastal tones. (You know I couldn’t resist a little blue and white in here.)

Bedroom Highlights

Here’s the scoop on where everything came from:

But comfort isn’t just about pillows and throws. We also upgraded to a marine-friendly mattress with 2-inch honeycomb support underneath, which helps air circulate and prevents that dreaded mildew buildup (boat life bonus tip!).

The space feels fresh, functional, and super restful, which is exactly what we wanted.

The Pilot House

Now we’re heading up to the pilot house, where all the navigating (and daydreaming) happens.

This is our command center when we’re underway, but it’s also where I’ll often sit with the dogs curled up beside me, writing blog posts and watching the water roll by.

The settee up here is super comfy and doubles as the dogs’ favorite nap spot. They’ve officially claimed it as their cruising couch.

With windows wrapping all the way around, we never miss a sunset or a seal sighting.

There’s also a combo fridge/freezer tucked into the cabinetry, and it is hidden under a hinged lid to keep the counter usable when we’re not reaching for snacks.

There’s also a sink with a hinged lid, which we keep closed when we don’t need it for extra prep space.

The helm station has been upgraded with Garmin chart plotters and a brand-new helm chair (the old one definitely had some miles on it), but I still need to add the pictures to this post.

We’ve recently installed double-pane windows and new pilot house doors, perfect for better insulation and a quieter ride. The Dutch doors already make it easy to get a fresh breeze without having to open things fully, which we love.

You’re seeing the old doors, but I promise I’ll get back out to the boat and take updated pictures.

And yes, the stairs back down are as steep as they look. Handrails are a must!

The Outdoor Cockpit

Through the double doors from the salon, you’ll step out into one of our favorite spaces on the boat—what we lovingly call the back porch.

This outdoor cockpit is where we come to relax, enjoy a quiet morning coffee, or sip something bubbly while watching the sunset over the water.

It’s covered and enclosed with hard plastic windows that unzip and attach to the ceiling on nice days, letting in all that fresh sea air.

Beneath the hatch in the cockpit floor is the lazarette, which is basically our marine version of a garage. It’s where we stash cleaning supplies, a pressure washer, crab pot buoys, and extra dock lines.

Of course, I had to dress the space up a bit with some fresh flowers, because let’s be honest… everything looks better with blooms.

And yes, the boys have their own setup out here, too. We actually cut a dog door into the teak door so they could access the cockpit easily (I know… we’re those people).

They even have their own doggie pad for when we’re on anchor and land is too far away to do their business. We must love our dogs to cut a hole in a teak door!

Final Thoughts on Our Home on the Water

It’s been a journey—three years of projects, plans, and more than a few “what did we get ourselves into?” moments, but we’ve turned this sturdy, 30-year-old boat into a warm, welcoming second home.

From the updated galley and cozy living space to the soft linens in the stateroom and the view-filled pilot house, every corner of Wildflower now reflects who we are and how we love to live—comfortably, simply, and always close to the sea.

We’re still working on a few finishing touches (aren’t we always?), and I’ll be updating this post with photos of the two heads (bathrooms) and guest staterooms after our next trip. There’s always more to share.

Thanks so much for joining me on this interior boat tour. I hope it gave you a little inspiration, whether you’re renovating a boat or just dreaming up your next home project on land or sea.

If you have questions or are curious about something you saw, leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you enjoyed this tour, feel free to share the post with someone who loves boats, makeovers, or just a good cozy before-and-after!

Until next time,

Happy Boating!

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