The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 vs Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep 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 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 at 32,7 ft versus Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 at 31,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 tips the scales at 8 598 lbs — 1 102 lbs more than the Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 at 7 496 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 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 tops out at 28 hp. Engine specs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 carries 30 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 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 — 8 598 lbs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 and 7 496 lbs for the Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep 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.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 4,4 ft and 5,2 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 uses Sloop rigging. The Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 has a documented auxiliary engine of 28 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 7,0 knots for the Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986.
Bottom line: The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 and Kirie Elite 326-Deep Draft Deep Draft 1987 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.