The Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 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 Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 at 32,6 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 tips the scales at 9 744 lbs — 683 lbs less than the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 at 9 061 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 Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 tops out at 28 hp. Engine specs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 carries 30 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

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 9 744 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987. 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 Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987. 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. The Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 has a documented auxiliary engine of 28 hp.

Hull speed is rated at 7,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1986.