The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 measures 45,4 feet overall (1988), giving it roughly 8,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 37,1 feet (1982). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 tips the scales at 21 164 lbs — 8 377 lbs less than the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 12 787 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 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 carries a rated maximum of 28 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.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 carries 74 gallons versus 20 gallons in the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982. 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 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 displaces 21 164 lbs — a 8 377-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 12 787 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 — 6,2 ft and 5,2 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 uses a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) versus a 1 wheel on the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 has a documented auxiliary engine of 28 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 and 7,5 knots for the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 carries 145 gallons versus 79 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Feeling 446 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1988 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 21 164 lbs displacement and 45 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Fin keel Fin keel 1982 at 12 787 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.