Tucker West took the helm as president and CEO of Kadey-Krogen Group in April 2021 after seven years as vice president of sales and prior roles with Grand Banks Yachts, The Catamaran Company and Sunsail. He now leads the company’s three brands—Krogen Yachts, Summit Motoryachts and American Tugs—offering boaters full-displacement, planing and semi-planing hull options respectively. Under his direction the group focuses on build quality, customer service and a product ladder that brings owners into the family earlier in their boating lives.
West’s career feels almost inevitable: a lifetime spent on and around boats. He grew up around the industry—his father worked in boating magazines with Cruising World and was involved with the Newport boat show—so boating and boat shows were part of his upbringing in Rhode Island. “I grew up driving a launch in Newport Harbor and sailing,” West recalls, “so I’ve always been around boats.”
Now based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, West and his wife are raising three children, two teenagers and one now in his twenties. The family is active on the water; West regularly uses a 1990 Donzi 23-foot center-console that will run near 35 knots. He says he expects to cruise in a Summit 54 as his life gets busier and to eventually slow down aboard a Krogen when the time comes—reflecting the company’s strategy of offering faster options for earlier-stage owners and classic displacement boats for later cruising.
SOUNDINGS: How did your relationship with Kadey-Krogen begin?
TUCKER WEST: My path to Kadey-Krogen started years before I joined the team full time. I first connected with the company back in 2004 while I was working at The Catamaran Company and living in Fort Lauderdale. My wife and I wanted to raise our children in the Northeast, and the Kadey-Krogen team offered me a sales role in Stuart. I declined because I wanted to move much farther north, but I stayed in touch with Tom Button.
After several stops—including Tartan, C&C and a long stint at Grand Banks—I opened and operated a Grand Banks retail dealership in Seattle following the 2008 market downturn. Coincidentally, Kadey-Krogen’s office was next door. Tom and I reconnected, and when Grand Banks later acquired Palm Beach Motor Yachts, Kadey-Krogen offered me an equity opportunity. In 2014 I bought out John Gear and became a partner with Tom Button and Larry Polster.
SO: What drew you to the Krogen brand?
TW: Kadey-Krogen has long been known for quality. Boats like the Krogen 42 put the brand on the map, and later models such as the 48 and 52 reinforced the reputation. I’ve always favored semi-custom quality—boats with strong fit-and-finish—and I believe Kadey-Krogen stands alongside Grand Banks and Hinckley in that regard. Beyond craftsmanship, how you treat customers matters. Too many manufacturers sell a beautiful boat and then make ownership frustrating. We try to do the opposite.
SO: How does Kadey-Krogen set itself apart in owner support?
TW: It starts with honest expectations and prompt resolution of issues. Problems will arise with any boat; the important part is how you address them. We put ourselves in the buyer’s shoes and act accordingly. When a situation is ambiguous, I generally err on the side of fixing it quickly. Resolving something immediately is often cheaper and maintains goodwill—docks and cruising communities spread reputations fast, and we want to be known for service and integrity.
SO: What role did you play in creating the Summit Motoryachts line?
TW: Summit was conceived to bring more customers into the Kadey-Krogen family earlier in life. At shows we saw people admire the Krogens’ fit and finish but hesitate because full-displacement boats cruise slower. We needed a faster, well-built option so owners could start with a Summit and later transition to a Krogen when they wanted to slow down. I helped drive that strategy and the early market introductions.
SO: What are the speed and performance differences between Krogen and Summit models?
TW: Krogen yachts are full-displacement and typically cruise from 7 to 9 knots. Summit models are planing hulls designed for higher speed—the Summit 54, for example, targets a 20-knot cruise and about a 23-knot top end. Naval architect Michael Peters developed the Summit hull form; Hull No. 1 arrived in March 2020, just as global shutdowns began, which delayed progress by roughly a year. We’re currently on Hull No. 7 and are working on designs for larger and smaller Summit models, including a potential 60-foot version.
SO: Your leadership changed again in 2021. Can you describe that transition?
TW: In 2021 Tom Button retired and Larry Polster moved into a sales role. I became president and CEO with growth-equity capital to assist the transition. A private-equity group assembled by a longtime friend bought a majority stake—67 percent—while I retained the remainder. The new partners are silent but provide financial acumen that complements my operational experience. It’s a strong combination for scaling the business.
SO: In May 2023 Kadey-Krogen acquired American Tugs. How has that integration progressed?
TW: Acquiring American Tugs required Kurt Dilworth’s involvement—he’s a founder and the boatbuilder, and we likely wouldn’t have proceeded without him staying on. With Kadey-Krogen’s support for finance, sales and marketing, American Tugs has started to benefit from a broader platform. Since the acquisition we’ve sold three new American Tugs and are close to having our first Kadey-Krogen sale facilitated from the American Tugs side. Integration is unfolding well.
SO: Do you see the same repeat-customer pattern across the brands?
TW: Yes. Repeat ownership is a hallmark for our customers—about 65 percent of Krogen and American Tugs buyers are repeat customers. That reflects long-term satisfaction with build quality and support.
SO: Do owners use their boats for serious cruising?
TW: Absolutely. Our boats are not dock ornaments. Even Summit owners venture far—running down to Florida for a season or enjoying multi-week cruises—then returning to explore New England in the spring. Owners actively use their boats rather than letting them sit idle.
SO: What models will you show at the Palm Beach International Boat Show?
TW: We expect to exhibit a Summit 54 and a Krogen 58, and we hope to show a new American Tug 39. There’s also a slim chance we’ll bring a Krogen 50 Open.
SO: What’s ahead for Kadey-Krogen?
TW: We’ll celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2026. For our 40th we hosted a large rendezvous at Fort Adams in Newport with events, presentations and owner-centered activities. Plans for the 50th are still being finalized, but we intend to hold a major celebration open to owners and enthusiasts—another opportunity to bring our community together on the water.
This article was originally published in the February 2024 issue.