The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 vs Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 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 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 measures 37,1 feet overall (1982), giving it roughly 5,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 at 31,8 feet (1981). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 tips the scales at 12 787 lbs — 3 417 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 at 9 370 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 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 and 18 hp for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 carries 20 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. 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 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 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 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 displaces 12 787 lbs — a 3 417-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 at 9 370 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 — 6,1 ft and 5,8 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 uses a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) versus a 1 tiller on the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 carries a 28-hp engine against 18 hp on the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. 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 7,5 knots for the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 carries 79 gallons versus 34 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Feeling 1100 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 12 787 lbs displacement and 37 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 at 9 370 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.