Feeling 326 Sailboats for Sale

The boat was designed by Harl and Mortain with interior volume as a clear priority. The hull pulls beam far aft — a hallmark of the French approach — and the result is a saloon that feels genuinely large for a 32-footer. That volume comes with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio that makes this a capable performer rather than a pure cruising slug, and the double-spreader, deck-stepped rig is straightforward to maintain. What the used buyer is really purchasing, though, is the keel decision made by an earlier owner, and that choice shapes the entire character of the boat.

Layouts on the Used Market

The 326 was offered with three keel configurations — a standard fin, a shoal fixed keel, and a centerboard lifting keel — and examples of all three turn up on the brokerage market. The lifting-keel version is the most distinctly French expression of the concept, built with small retractable legs that allow it to dry out upright on tidal moorings, and it tends to appeal most strongly to buyers sailing areas with significant tidal range, particularly across the UK, northern France, and the Low Countries. The fixed-fin and shoal-keel versions offer simplicity at the cost of that tidal versatility and are more common in Mediterranean listings.

Below decks, the layout reflects the design's stated goal of packing two genuinely separated sleeping areas into a 32-foot hull. The forward cabin and aft cabin are divided by the main saloon and galley, which gives couples or small crews meaningful privacy. The saloon seating is generous — arguably the most impressive feature of the interior — and the galley is organized around a centerline island arrangement for the sinks, which is clever in concept though it does leave limited linear counter space for meal preparation. The settees compensate with ample room for dining. An enclosed head compartment with reasonable standing room completes a layout that feels more like a 35-footer than the LOA would suggest.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Examples reaching the market today are generally well-equipped for coastal and short-passage sailing. Radar, a chartplotter, and autopilot are commonly fitted across the fleet — these were added by owners who used the boats actively and recognized that a capable cruiser needs capable navigation tools. The autopilot is particularly important on a boat intended for short-handed sailing, and buyers should verify the unit's condition carefully.

Owner upgrades tend toward comfort and self-sufficiency. A bimini is a frequent addition, particularly on boats that have spent time in southern waters. Solar panels are a common retrofit, reflecting owners' desire for adequate charging without running the engine, which on an 18-horsepower Yanmar or Volvo auxiliary is modest in output. A swim platform, life raft, and supplementary heating round out the upgrades that frequently appear, with the heating options most prevalent on boats based in northern Europe. Boats from UK and Irish waters especially tend to carry more of these cold-weather and offshore additions.

What to Inspect

The lifting-keel mechanism deserves careful attention before any survey. The boat was reviewed noting the lifting-keel arrangement requires confident engineering to maintain adequate stiffness when the keel is retracted, and the mechanical components — the pivot point, the hoisting tackle, and the sealing arrangement at the keel trunk — can deteriorate if maintenance has been deferred. Ask specifically when the mechanism was last serviced and whether the keel has ever failed to deploy or retract freely. On fixed-keel versions, inspect the keel-to-hull joint carefully, as this is a common vulnerability on production boats of this era and age.

The rudder on the 326 was noted in contemporaneous review as stubby and relatively small for the hull, which means the rudder pintles and gudgeons, and the rudder stock itself, are worth close inspection. A small rudder working hard over decades of sailing can suffer from bearing wear that produces slop and imprecision that is costly to correct.

The deck-stepped mast is straightforward to drop for inspection, and buyers should take advantage of that: check the mast base compression post in the saloon for any sign of cracking or delamination, and have the rig hardware — particularly the chainplates, which on deck-stepped rigs can see complex loading — surveyed thoroughly. The standing rigging on any boat of this age should be evaluated on its own merits regardless of claimed service history.

Hull construction is standard fiberglass production of its era. Look for osmotic blistering on the underbody — common across boats of this generation — and check the cockpit drains, which on wide-beamed French designs can be sized more optimistically than North Atlantic sailing conditions warrant. Inspect the companionway hatch sealing and the large forward cabin window, which is a distinctive design feature; any sign of weeping or crazing at the frame seal warrants attention before moisture finds its way into the coachroof structure.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Feeling 326 is concentrated most heavily in the European market, where the yard's reputation is strongest and the tidal sailing conditions suit the lifting-keel variant particularly well. France, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium represent the core hunting grounds. North American examples exist but are far less common, and buyers on that side of the Atlantic may need patience or willingness to import. Mediterranean listings, particularly on the Iberian coast, do appear and tend to reflect boats used for summer season sailing with less offshore exposure.

For the buyer who finds a well-maintained example, the Feeling 326 offers a compelling combination: genuine interior volume, useful keel flexibility, a sail plan that keeps the boat moving in light air, and a straightforward rig that won't intimidate a moderately experienced owner. The key is vetting the specific keel variant for fit with your intended waters, and committing to a proper survey that covers the mechanism in detail.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Determine keel configuration early and confirm it suits your intended sailing grounds
• Survey the lifting-keel mechanism fully if applicable — pivot, tackle, and trunk seal
• Inspect rudder stock, pintles, and gudgeons for wear
• Check mast compression post below the deck-stepped mast
• Survey chainplates and all standing rigging
• Inspect the underbody for osmotic blistering
• Verify cockpit drain sizing and condition
• Check the large forward coachroof window seal for moisture ingress
• Confirm autopilot and nav electronics are fully operational
• Ask for documented service history on the auxiliary engine