The Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 vs Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal 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 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 at 32,7 ft versus Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 at 32,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 tips the scales at 9 061 lbs — 463 lbs more than the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal 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 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 — 9 061 lbs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 and 8 598 lbs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal 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.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 draws 6,4 ft, compared to 4,4 ft for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986. That 2,0-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 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 uses Sloop rigging.
Hull speed is rated at 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986.
Bottom line: The Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 and Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal 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.