The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 720 NV - 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 Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 measures 32,7 feet overall (1986), giving it roughly 8,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 24,5 feet (1982). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 tips the scales at 8 598 lbs — 4 299 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 4 299 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 10 hp for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 displaces 8 598 lbs — a 4 299-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 4 299 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 4,1 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. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 uses a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) versus a 1 tiller on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries a 18-hp engine against 10 hp on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. 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 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 6,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 50 gallons versus 13 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.