I met Mary and Chris Kelleher aboard their Krogen 36 Manatee, Manatee named Cashelmara, on a hot, sunny afternoon in Annapolis, Maryland. They were only days away from completing a longtime goal—crossing their own wake in New York Harbor to finish their first Great Loop, a voyage they began in May 2021. Both raised near the water, the Kellehers nurtured a lifelong love of boating that led them from small daysailers to serious cruising yachts.
Their boating progression began on Long Island with a Boston Whaler Montauk 17, followed by a Luhrs 28, where they introduced their three children to coastal cruising all the way out to Montauk. They later owned a wooden Grand Banks 36 that offered more accommodation for family cruises. “Every year we’d load bikes and water toys and cruise for two weeks with friends,” Mary recalls. “The kids got involved with trip planning and navigation.”
After a couple of years the family moved on to a Mainship 36 Aft Cabin that allowed longer passages to destinations like Block Island and Mystic Seaport. Fifteen years aboard the Mainship convinced them it was time for a more robust cruising platform, and they eventually purchased the Kadey-Krogen 36 Manatee, a model known for seaworthy hull design and live-aboard comforts.
Kadey-Krogen Yachts was founded in 1976 when Art Kadey teamed with naval architect Jim Krogen to create production cruising yachts. The firm launched the Krogen 42 in 1977, and later introduced the Krogen 36 Manatee in 1984 as a capable coastal cruiser with comfortable liveaboard amenities. Ninety-nine Manatees were built before the model was retired in 1991. The Kellehers chose the name Cashelmara—taken from Susan Howatch’s multigenerational saga—because of their Irish heritage and their fondness for the book.
They owned Cashelmara for nearly five years before setting out on the Great Loop. During that time Chris, a retired captain with extensive hands-on experience working in shipyards, marinas and later commanding a 140-foot fireboat in New York Harbor, upgraded nearly every major operational system onboard. His practical background made the Krogen 36 both more comfortable and more self-sufficient for long-distance cruising.
Among the most important upgrades was installing air conditioning; fortunate cutouts in the structure simplified duct runs. Chris added a second 30-amp circuit specifically for the AC and another circuit for an engine-room heater. Although Cashelmara did not come with a genset, Chris prepared the boat to accept one in the future. He also installed solar panels on the flybridge hardtop, increased lithium battery capacity and fitted an automatic charging controller. The added renewable energy and battery storage are sufficient to maintain the vessel’s house systems day-to-day, though the AC requires shore power or a generator.
Propulsion comes from the original 90-hp Volvo Penta TAMD 31A four-cylinder diesel. At their typical cruising speed of about 6 knots, Mary and Chris report roughly 4 mpg. Later Krogen 36 Manatee models were fitted with stronger engines—100-hp Volvos or 110-hp Yanmars—but the TAMD 31A delivers the steady, economical performance this couple prefers for coastal and Great Loop passages.
The couple enjoyed their Loop so much that they sold their Long Island home the following summer and purchased a larger Krogen 44 with plans to live aboard full time. Their cruising intentions are clear: spend summers in Maine and winters enjoying the warmth of the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.
Walkthrough
Boarding the Krogen 36 Manatee is commonly done from the teak swim platform through the transom door, though the boat has two side gates as well. A modest aft deck, furnished with a table and chairs, is sheltered by an overhead deck extension. To starboard, a ladder leads up to the semi-enclosed flybridge with its hardtop, centerline helm and wraparound seating. Openings in the low flybridge walls give access to steps that lead down to the foredeck.
Inside, a large salon is accessed by double teak-and-glass doors. Because the Manatee lacks exterior sidedecks, the interior volume feels unusually generous for a 36-foot yacht. Big sliding windows bring in light and ventilation. Forward, the U-shaped galley is laid out with household-style appliances, ample counter space and considerable storage—features that make extended cruising more comfortable. To starboard, a full head includes an enclosed shower. The main stateroom is in the bow and typically contains an island queen berth and a large hanging locker, providing boaters with a comfortable, private sleeping area.
For cruisers seeking a classic, conservative trawler-style boat with liveaboard amenities and proven performance, the Krogen 36 Manatee remains an attractive choice. The Kellehers’ journey highlights how thoughtful upgrades—battery and solar systems, targeted electrical work and climate control—can make a smaller cruiser ready for extended voyages like the Great Loop.
This article was originally published in the November 2022 issue.