Design and Construction
Kirie built the 1040 in fibreglass with a wooden interior, and the boat was offered with a remarkably broad set of keel alternatives for a production 35-footer. A deep lead keel draws about 1.80 to 1.90 metres and confines the boat to major marinas, while a shallow iron keel at 1.40 to 1.50 metres lets her tuck into shallow harbours. Two further iron fin keel options span 1.80 to 1.90 metres and 1.90 to 2.00 metres respectively, the deeper of those also restricting her to larger ports. The ballast ratio sits at 41 percent, higher than 54 percent of comparable sailboat designs, and the length-to-beam ratio of 2.94 makes her beamier than 76% of similar designs — a hull that trades a little ultimate motion comfort (her Motion Comfort Ratio of 20.8 beats only 21 percent of peers) for genuine interior volume.
Rig and Handling
The 1040 is a masthead sloop carrying an estimated 557 square feet of sail, and the control lines follow predictable mid-size cruiser dimensions: jib and genoa sheets about 10.7 metres long in 14 mm diameter, a 26.6 metre mainsheet of the same diameter, and spinnaker sheets of 23.4 metres. Under power a shaft drive transmits to a propeller for a maximum of 7.0 knots, just under the theoretical displacement hull speed of 7.2 knots. The capsize screening value of 2.12 means she would not qualify for ocean racing under that metric, and her DL-ratio of 209 slots her among moderate racers with a Relative Speed Performance of 58. The wetted surface runs about 36 square metres, and her immersion rate of roughly 213 kg per centimetre (1,195 lb per inch) describes how heavily she loads with cruising gear.
Accommodations
The interior is wood, consistent with production cruisers of the era, and the beamy hull form translated into living space that the design ratios suggest was above average for the class. No berth count or layout plan survives, but the 11-foot-10-inch beam and 35-foot length argue for a conventional aft-cockpit cruiser volume rather than a minimalist racer.
Known Issues
The keel alternatives themselves are the principal buyer variable: iron keels rather than lead invite routine anticorrosion vigilance, and the range of drafts demands that a purchaser match the specific keel to intended cruising grounds.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership considerations centre on the keel identity and drivetrain. The shaft-drive transmission is straightforward, and the multiple keel castings mean a given boat's draft should be confirmed against its actual foil rather than assumed from the model name.
The Verdict
The Feeling 1040 is a thoughtfully proportioned mid-1980s cruiser whose multiple keel options let the same basic Harlé-Mortain hull serve both deep-water and shallow-water sailors. She is beamy and well-ballasted for her length, if not the softest motion in a seaway, and her masthead rig is simple to handle. The chief caveat is that "1040" describes a family of drafts and keel metals rather than one boat, so each example must be judged on its own foil.
Pros
- Beamier than 76% of similar designs for her size
- Ballast ratio higher than 54% of comparable boats
- Choice of shallow, deep, and fin keels for varied cruising
Cons
- Motion Comfort Ratio better than only 21% of peers
- Capsize screening value excludes ocean-race eligibility
- Iron keel options require corrosion attention
