Design and Construction
The 1090 is built on the hull of the Feeling 1040, which Kirié had introduced two years earlier as one of the first joint Harlé–Mortain designs. The 1040 hull itself was regarded as a marvel of efficiency for its time, and the 1090 inherits that underwater body while gaining a few centimeters of length from a stern platform set above the waterline. Where the 1040 wore a wedge-shaped coachroof, the 1090 adopts a panoramic deck-saloon superstructure with semi-flush decks forward of the mast. That superstructure gives the boat a distinctive look and floods the saloon with light, but it also costs headroom in the forward cabin. The side decks are comfortable and easy to move along, and the cockpit is genuinely roomy — four people can sit without crowding.
Rig and Handling
The 1090 is rigged as a masthead sloop with a taller mast than the 1040 carried as standard, paired with a wheel steering system as standard equipment. The mainsheet traveler sits at the foot of the companionway rather than in the cockpit. On the water the hull proves one of the most efficient upwind, with an above-average speed-to-course ratio, and it stays very comfortable on downwind legs. Period assessments describe the boat as easy to handle, very seaworthy, always stable at the helm, and reliable in behavior, performing well in a breeze. With a displacement of 5,050 kg and 2,150 kg of ballast, the 36-foot hull tracks predictably and rewards active sail management.
Accommodations
Inside, the central portion of the interior is astonishingly spacious, though that openness comes largely at the expense of stowage. The panoramic coachroof makes the saloon markedly brighter than the 1040 and offers a clear view forward. A large chart table sits to starboard at the companionway, with the head and shower behind it; opposite lies the aft cabin, considered the owner's cabin and blessed with 1.95 meters of headroom. The U-shaped galley is exceptionally large, suited to cooking at anchor or underway with maximum storage. The forward cabin measures 2 meters by 1.70 meters, and in one version it is open-plan with the saloon to enlarge the perceived interior volume. Buyers could choose one or two aft cabins.
Known Issues
The sources document no structural defects, osmotic blistering, or rigging failures specific to the 1090. The only accommodation trade-off recorded is the loss of forward headroom from the semi-flush deck profile, and the spacious central layout's penalty in stowage capacity.
Refits and Ownership
A wedge-coachroof version of the 1090 appeared later in the production run, giving used-boat shoppers a visual alternative to the panoramic saloon. One hull competed in the Route du Rhum in 1998, evidence of the platform's offshore credibility beyond cruising. The 30 hp engine and standard wheel steer mean later owners face few deviations from period norms when sourcing spares.
The Verdict
The Feeling 1090 is a thoughtfully evolved cruiser that takes an already efficient Harlé–Mortain hull and makes it brighter and more livable without sacrificing the upwind bite and helm stability that define the design. The deck-saloon superstructure is a genuine step forward in saloon comfort, even if it trims headroom forward and trades some stowage for volume.
Pros
- Inherited 1040 hull described as one of the most efficient of its generation
- Panoramic coachroof delivers above-average saloon brightness and forward visibility
- Roomy cockpit, large U-galley, and 1.95 m aft-owner cabin
- Stable, reliable, seaworthy handling upwind and down
Cons
- Reduced forward headroom from semi-flush deck profile
- Central interior spaciousness achieved largely at the expense of stowage
