The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 vs Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 measures 45,4 feet overall (1988), giving it roughly 20,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 24,5 feet (1982). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 tips the scales at 20 944 lbs — 16 645 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 4 299 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 55 hp, the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 has a 45-hp advantage over the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982's 10-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 displaces 20 944 lbs — a 16 645-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 4 299 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.

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 4,1 ft for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. That 2,7-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. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 uses a 1 wheel versus a 1 tiller on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries a 55-hp engine against 10 hp on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.

Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and 6,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 145 gallons versus 13 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.