The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 measures 36,5 feet overall (1986), giving it roughly 3,8 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 tips the scales at 10 803 lbs — 2 205 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries a rated maximum of 28 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 32 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 is rated for 11 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 displaces 10 803 lbs — a 2 205-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.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,1 ft and 4,4 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 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 Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 has a documented auxiliary engine of 28 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 7,2 knots for the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 63 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.
Bottom line: The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 10 803 lbs displacement and 37 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Kirie Feeling 960 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 at 8 598 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.