Design and Construction
Kirié built the Elite 324 with a solid fiberglass hull and a French pedigree under Harlé's hand in the early eighties anchor. The hull carries 3,000 pounds of iron ballast against an 8,410-pound displacement, a 35.7 percent ballast-displacement ratio that gives her a settled, purposeful stance without the leaden feel of a pure cruiser. At 32.3 feet overall with a 10.6-foot beam, her length-to-beam ratio of 3.06 and a displacement-length ratio of 221 place her among what reviewers categorize as "moderate racers" — quick enough to feel alive, heavy enough to look after a crew in a seaway. The wetted surface runs about 290 square feet, and the immersion rate of roughly 954 pounds per inch means she loads and trims predictably as stores come aboard.
Rig and Sail Plan
The 324 wears a masthead sloop rig with a combined mainsail and jib area of 446 square feet. On the reference sail that yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.0, rising to 20.2 with a 135 percent genoa — a figure that puts her faster than most comparable designs in light wind. Halyard and sheet geometry follow a conventional masthead layout: both mainsail and jib/genoa halyards run about 92 feet at 3/8-inch diameter, while the mainsheet stretches roughly 81 feet and the genoa sheets about 32 feet at half-inch diameter. The fin-keel configuration came in two drafts — a shoaler 4.27 to 4.57 feet and a deeper 5.58 to 5.88 feet depending on load — letting buyers trade shallow-marina access against bite to windward.
Performance Profile
Under sail the 324's theoretical hull speed is 6.8 knots, and her Motion Comfort Ratio of 20.5 sits more comfortably than roughly a quarter of similar designs — not plush, but steady. The capsize screening value of 2.06 is below the threshold accepted for ocean racing, marking her as a coastal and offshore-cruising proposition rather than a bluewater racer. Under the optional Volvo Penta 2002 diesel at 18 horsepower, the calculated maximum under power is about 5.5 knots, enough to make a pass or a marina approach without drama.
Accommodations and Interior Space
Comparative analysis ranks the 324 as roomier than most similar sailboat designs, a meaningful endorsement at this length where every foot of beam is contested by systems and berths. The 50-gallon water and 20-gallon fuel capacities support weekend and extended coastal cruising without constant replenishment. No interior arrangement details survive in the record beyond that spatial comparison, but the proportions argue for a usable, if not expansive, cruising interior.
Known Issues
The shoal and deep fin-keel options should be confirmed against the specific hull when surveying, as draft and handling differ materially between the two.
The Verdict
The Elite 324 is a thoughtfully proportioned Harlé design that punches above her length in light-air speed and interior room while staying honest about her limits. She is a coastal cruiser-racer with a solid build and a sensible rig, not a globe-girdling expedition boat.
Pros
- Faster than most peers in light wind under genoa
- Roomier than most comparable designs
- Two keel drafts broaden mooring and sailing options
- Moderate-racer displacement profile balances speed and steadiness
Cons
- Capsize screening below ocean-race acceptance
- Comfort ratio ahead of only about a quarter of similar boats
- Limited under-engine speed at 5.5 knots max
