The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 32,7 ft versus Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 32,7 ft. At 8 598 lbs and 8 598 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 18 hp for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 18 hp for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
Both boats are rated for 9 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 8 598 lbs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 8 598 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,1 ft and 5,1 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.
Hull speed is rated at 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986.
Bottom line: The Kirie Elite 324 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 are closely matched on paper. A sea trial on both in representative conditions is the only reliable way to find which one suits your sailing style, home port, and intended cruising ground.