The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 55 hp, the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 has a 37-hp advantage over the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981's 18-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 74 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.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 displaces 20 944 lbs — a 11 574-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 — 6,8 ft and 5,8 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
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 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 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries a 55-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 8,0 knots for the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Deep draft Deep draft 1981. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 446 - Deep draft Deep draft 1988 carries 145 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 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 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.