The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 vs Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987 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 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 measures 36,5 feet overall (1986), giving it roughly 3,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987 at 32,6 feet (1987). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 tips the scales at 10 803 lbs — 1 059 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987 at 9 744 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 28 hp for the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 and 28 hp for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 32 gal and 30 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987 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 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 could be the deciding factor.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 10 803 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 and 9 744 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 4,7 ft and 5,2 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 uses a 1 wheel versus a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) on the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones.
Hull speed is rated at 7,2 knots for the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 and 7,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 carries 63 gallons versus 50 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Feeling 1090 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1986 at 36,5 ft offers more living space, greater range, and a more substantial offshore capability. The Kirie Feeling 326 - Centerboard (Trunk) Centerboard (Trunk) 1987 at 32,6 ft is the easier, lower-cost option — simpler to crew and a strong choice for coastal and day sailing.