The Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 vs Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 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 12,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 at 32,7 feet (1986). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 tips the scales at 20 944 lbs — 12 346 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 at 8 598 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 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 74 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

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 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 caps at 9. 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 12 346-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 at 8 598 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 4,4 ft for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986. That 2,4-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 (helm wheel in option) on the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. 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 Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Elite 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 145 gallons versus 50 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.