The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 vs Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 at 45,4 ft versus Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 at 45,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 tips the scales at 21 164 lbs — 220 lbs less than the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 at 20 944 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries a rated maximum of 55 hp. Engine data for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 74 gal and 74 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
Both boats are rated for 13 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 — 20 944 lbs for the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and 21 164 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988. 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 draws 6,8 ft, compared to 5,2 ft for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988. That 1,6-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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 uses Sloop rigging. The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 has a documented auxiliary engine of 55 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 and 8,0 knots for the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988.
Bottom line: The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 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.