A 36-Inch Double-Bowl Farmhouse Sink Built for Heavy Kitchen Work
The Karran EL-87 is a 16-gauge stainless steel apron-front sink with a 60/40 double-bowl layout, sized at 36 by 22-1/4 by 10 inches. Part of Karran's Elite series, it combines the exposed-apron farmhouse aesthetic with the divided workspace of a large/small bowl configuration, and it ships as a -PK1 kit that includes basket strainers and bottom grids so the install is ready to use from day one.
Key Features
• 16-gauge stainless steel construction delivers the thicker bowl walls and quieter resonance of the Elite series.
• 60/40 double-bowl layout pairs a larger primary wash bowl with a smaller prep or disposal bowl in the same 36-inch footprint.
• 10-inch bowl depth gives both basins generous vertical clearance for large pots and sheet pans.
• Exposed apron front sits proud of the cabinet face, anchoring the farmhouse look across the kitchen run.
• -PK1 kit includes stainless steel basket strainers, bottom grids, and Luster Pro oil, so the accessories needed for daily use arrive in the same box.
• Farmhouse sink base cabinet required, with the face frame prepared to the apron dimensions and the sink carried on horizontal support strips.
Designed for Two-Station Kitchen Workflows
A divided sink changes how a kitchen operates. The larger bowl handles active washing — soaking cast iron, rinsing sheet pans, cleaning up after a full dinner service — while the smaller bowl stays free for prep water, a colander, or a second task running in parallel. That separation is what makes a 60/40 layout a working choice, not just an aesthetic one. The 10-inch depth adds clearance that a shallower bowl cannot offer: tall stockpots and full-size hotel pans drop in without fighting the rim. Cabinet shops outfitting a client kitchen, contractors finishing a high-use residential project, and homeowners planning a kitchen renovation with serious cooking demands will all find the configuration worth the cabinet coordination it requires.
Elite-Series Stainless and the Apron Build
The EL-87 is part of Karran's Elite series, which runs at 16 gauge — meaningfully thicker than the 18-gauge stainless found in standard residential sinks. That extra thickness reduces flexing under load, deadens the sound of running water and dropped utensils, and gives the bowl walls a more substantial feel at the rim. The apron front is formed from the same stainless and sits exposed across the width of the cabinet opening, finishing proud of the face frame as the installation guide specifies. No wood veneer, no panel insert — the steel is the face. Basket strainers and bottom grids from the PK1 kit are matched to this model's bowls, so there is no separate sourcing step for the accessories that protect the basin floor and seal the drains.
Who This Sink Fits
The EL-87 is the right call when a project already plans around a farmhouse sink base cabinet and wants divided bowl function rather than a single open basin. It suits new construction and full kitchen remodels where cabinetry is being built or replaced — not a retrofit into an existing standard cabinet, which is the territory of the QAR-style shorter-apron line. The standard farmhouse installation carries the sink's weight on level support strips screwed into the cabinet side walls, with the rim set flush with the cabinet tops on either side. No cutout template ships with the sink, so the actual unit needs to be on hand before the cabinet face frame is cut. Reveal — the relationship between the apron and the surrounding cabinet — should be confirmed with the customer before fabrication begins.
Does this sink fit a standard 36-inch sink base cabinet?
It requires a farmhouse sink base — one built or modified with the face frame prepared to the apron dimensions — not a standard sink base. If you are working with an existing standard cabinet and want the farmhouse look, look at a QAR-series retrofit model instead.
What is included in the -PK1 kit?
The kit ships with stainless steel basket strainers, bottom grids, and Luster Pro oil. A cutout template, faucet, and drain assembly are not included.
Which bowl is the larger one in the 60/40 configuration?
The 60/40 layout places the larger bowl on one side and the smaller prep bowl beside it. Confirm bowl orientation from the model spec sheet and have the sink on hand before cabinet fabrication begins.
How does the sink sit in the cabinet during installation?
The sink rests on horizontal support strips screwed level into the cabinet side walls, with vertical supports underneath for added strength. The countertop does not carry the sink's weight. The rim should finish flush with the cabinet tops on either side.
Is this sink compatible with a garbage disposal?
The smaller bowl in a 60/40 layout is commonly used as a disposal side, and the 10-inch depth provides clearance beneath for a standard disposal unit. Confirm the disposal flange and drain opening compatibility before ordering the disposal separately.
Two Bowls, One Professional-Grade Sink
The EL-87 packages a well-thought-out divided workspace, 16-gauge Elite-series construction, and the hardware needed to finish the install — into a single apron-front sink that handles demanding kitchen use from the first day in service.
