The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 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 5,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 at 27,1 feet (1983). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 tips the scales at 8 598 lbs — 2 425 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 at 6 173 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.
The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries a rated maximum of 18 hp. Engine data for the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 24 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983. 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 Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 caps at 8. 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 2 425-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 at 6 173 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 5,7 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 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 has a documented auxiliary engine of 18 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 6,6 knots for the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 50 gallons versus 24 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 8 598 lbs displacement and 33 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Kirie Feeling 850 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 at 6 173 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.