The Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 55 hp, the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 has a 37-hp advantage over the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986's 18-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 74 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
The Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 is rated for up to 8 people. Passenger data for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 wasn't available.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 displaces 20 944 lbs — a 15 432-lb difference over the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 at 5 512 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 draws 6,8 ft, compared to 5,7 ft for the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986. That 1,1-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 uses a 1 tiller versus a 1 wheel on the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries a 55-hp engine against 18 hp on the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and 6,7 knots for the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 145 gallons versus 24 gallons on the Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 20 944 lbs displacement and 0 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Kirie Elite 286 - Fin keel Fin keel 1986 at 5 512 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.