The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 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 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 measures 32,7 feet overall (1986), giving it roughly 8,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 24,5 feet (1982). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 tips the scales at 8 598 lbs — 4 630 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 3 968 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 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 tops out at 10 hp. Engine specs for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 displaces 8 598 lbs — a 4 630-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 3 968 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 — 4,4 ft and 4,7 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. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 uses a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) versus a 1 tiller on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. The Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 has a documented auxiliary engine of 10 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 6,8 knots for the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 and 6,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal Draft 1986 carries 50 gallons versus 13 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Elite 324 - Shoal Draft Shoal 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 720 NV - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 3 968 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.