The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 measures 37,1 feet overall (1982), giving it roughly 4,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 32,7 feet (1986). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 tips the scales at 12 787 lbs — 4 189 lbs less than the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 8 598 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 18 hp for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 28 hp for the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 24 gallons versus 20 gallons in the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 displaces 12 787 lbs — a 4 189-lb difference over the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 8 598 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.

Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,1 ft and 6,1 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.

The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 uses Sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 carries a 28-hp engine against 18 hp on the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 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 7,5 knots for the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 carries 79 gallons versus 50 gallons on the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.