The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 vs Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 55 hp, the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 has a 45-hp advantage over the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982's 10-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 displaces 20 944 lbs — a 16 645-lb difference over the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 4 299 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.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 draws 6,8 ft, compared to 4,1 ft for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. That 2,7-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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 uses a 1 wheel versus a 1 tiller on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries a 55-hp engine against 10 hp on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. 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 8,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and 6,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 145 gallons versus 13 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 20 944 lbs displacement and 0 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Kirie Feeling 720 NV - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1982 at 4 299 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.