The Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 at 32,6 ft versus Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 at 31,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 tips the scales at 9 744 lbs — 374 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 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 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 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 carries 30 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.

Both boats are rated for 9 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 9 744 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 and 9 370 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.

Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981 draws 5,8 ft, compared to 4,4 ft for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987. That 1,4-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 Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 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 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 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 7,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 326 - Shoal draft Shoal draft 1987 carries 50 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.