This article was written by Tom Dove in SAIL Magazine in
1995
Kirie' Feeling 416 DI ………………"for
a passage or a shallow cove"
The
design criteria that make this boat ideal for cruising Europe's Brittany
and Normandy coasts also make it an admirable cruiser for shoal waters
anywhere. Chesapeake Bay, Intracoastal Waterway, and Bahamas sailors
should welcome this concept.
The
distinguished feature is the iron ballast/base plate and centerboard.
This massive casting, bolted to the heavily reinforced fibreglass hull,
creates in one unit external ballast, a centerboard, and a strong pivoting
mechanism. The deck is Baltek balsa cored as in the hull above the
waterline.
The
boat is designed to be beachable; board-up draft is a mere 2.5 feet.
Twin rudders with solid stainless steel shafts and sturdy mounts can
take the ground with ease; two other vestigial fins hold the boat upright
when the tide goes out. A solid skeg protects the propeller. On deck
the layout is open and comfortable, with wide, unobstructed side decks
and an exceptionally well thought out cockpit. There are perfectly
contoured spots to sit, to windward and to leeward, and visibility
over the low coachroof is excellent.
All
lines are led aft from the mast to the cockpit under cover. The midboom
traveler is easy to use, even in a good breeze, and all hardware is
good quality and properly sized.
Belowdeck
all the cabins are finished with padded vinyl and light elmwood tree
for a bright pleasant atmosphere. The curved fiddles and well-placed
are a fine defence against boat-bites in rough weather. Ventilation
and light from hatches and ports are excellent.
The
galley includes a large double sink, conveniently located in a island
aft of the centerboard trunk. Large ports in the top of the table let
the crew check the centerboard or watch the fish swim under the boat.
The
wiring is elegant. All wires are led through conduits that are labeled
neatly at both ends, and there are spare messenger lines for adding
to the system. The navstation itself is comfortable and spacious, with
good stowage for instruments and charts and its own contoured wooden
seat.
Under
sail on the Chesapeake the boat was a pleasure. In 12 knots of wind
and a 1- to 2-foot chop it was well balanced with full sail. The helm
was neutral with the centerboard partially or fully down, and the rack-and-pinion
link steering was positive. It was even possible to release the wheel,
walk around the deck, and return to find the boat still tracking on
course at better than 7 knots.
Engine
noise at 2000 rpm, a low cruise speed that produced 5 knots, was exceptionally
low and rose to a more average level as the boat reached full speed
at 2,500 to 2,800 rpm. Control in reverse was not as positive as in
forward gear. Crosswind situations call for some use of the centerboard
to keep the bow from being pushed around.
The
Feeling 416 is strong and fast. The interior is very liveable, and
the comfort on deck is excellent. Best of all, this design can make
an offshore passage and then sneak into a shallow creek or even slide
up on a deserted beach. With a base price of a million French Francs
for the lift keel version (A fixed keel version is also available)
what more could a cruising skipper want?
Tom
Dove June 1995 (SAIL Magazine)
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