The Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 vs Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 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 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 at 31,8 ft versus Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 32,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 tips the scales at 9 370 lbs — 772 lbs more than the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 at 8 598 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 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 tops out at 18 hp. Engine specs for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 24 gallons versus 9 gallons in the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 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 — 9 370 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 and 8 598 lbs for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986. 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 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 draws 6,4 ft, compared to 5,1 ft for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986. That 1,3-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 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 uses a 1 tiller versus a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) on the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. The Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 has a documented auxiliary engine of 18 hp.

Hull speed is rated at 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 and 6,8 knots for the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Kirie Feeling 960 - Deep draft Deep draft 1986 carries 50 gallons versus 34 gallons on the Kirie Feeling 920 - Keel and centerboard Keel and centerboard 1981 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.