Design and Construction
The 1090 uses the hull of the Feeling 1040, which Kirié had introduced two years earlier as one of the first joint Harlé–Mortain designs. Regarded as remarkably efficient for its time, the 1040 hull gave the 1090 its underwater shape. A stern platform above the waterline added a few centimeters to the overall length.
Where the 1040 had a wedge-shaped coachroof, the 1090 received a panoramic deck-saloon superstructure, with semi-flush decks forward of the mast. This gives the boat its distinctive appearance and brings plenty of light into the saloon, though it reduces headroom in the forward cabin.
The side decks are comfortable and easy to move along. The cockpit is genuinely roomy, with enough space for four people to sit without crowding.
Rig and Handling
The 1090 is a masthead sloop with a taller mast than the standard rig on the 1040. Wheel steering was standard, and the mainsheet traveler is positioned 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, while remaining very comfortable on downwind legs. Period assessments describe the boat as easy to handle, very seaworthy, consistently stable at the helm, reliable in its behavior, and a good performer in a breeze.
Displacement is 5,050 kg, including 2,150 kg of ballast. The 36-foot hull tracks predictably and rewards active sail management.
Accommodations
The central part of the interior is astonishingly spacious, although much of that openness comes at the expense of stowage. Compared with the 1040, the panoramic coachroof makes the saloon markedly brighter and provides a clear view forward.
A large chart table sits to starboard at the companionway, with the head and shower behind it. Opposite is the aft cabin, considered the owner’s cabin, with 1.95 meters of headroom. Buyers could choose either one or two aft cabins.
The U-shaped galley is exceptionally large. It’s well suited to cooking at anchor or underway and provides maximum storage. Forward, the cabin measures 2 meters by 1.70 meters. In one version, it is open to the saloon, increasing the perceived interior volume.
Variants and Ownership
A wedge-coachroof version of the 1090 appeared later in the production run, offering 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 steering leave later owners with few departures from period norms when sourcing spares.
Known Issues and Trade-Offs
The sources document no structural defects, osmotic blistering, or rigging failures specific to the 1090. The only recorded accommodation trade-offs are the reduced headroom in the forward cabin caused by the semi-flush deck profile and the loss of stowage that comes with the spacious central layout.
The Verdict
The Feeling 1090 thoughtfully develops an already efficient Harlé–Mortain hull, making the boat brighter and more livable without sacrificing the upwind bite and helm stability that define the design. Its deck-saloon superstructure brings a genuine improvement in saloon comfort, even if it reduces headroom forward and trades some stowage for interior volume.
Pros
- Inherited 1040 hull described as one of the most efficient of its generation
- Panoramic coachroof provides above-average saloon brightness and forward visibility
- Roomy cockpit, large U-shaped galley, and owner’s aft cabin with 1.95 m of headroom
- Stable, reliable, and seaworthy handling upwind and downwind
Cons
- Reduced forward headroom under the semi-flush deck profile
- Spacious central interior achieved largely at the expense of stowage
