Keel Options and Draft
The Feeling 356 was offered with different keel alternatives, and the choice has a direct bearing on where the boat can cruise.
The iron drop keel draws just 2.46 to 2.76 feet, depending on load, allowing access to even shallow marinas. The shallow iron keel draws 4.43 to 4.73 feet and also permits entry into shallow marinas. At the other end of the range, the deep lead keel draws 6.07 to 6.37 feet, restricting the boat to major marinas.
With draft ranging from less than 2.5 feet to more than 6 feet, a used-boat buyer should choose according to the intended cruising grounds. The use of iron for the drop and shallow keels, rather than the lead used in the deep keel, also makes a material difference in grounding behavior and ballast density.
Hull and Construction
The hull has a solid fiberglass layup, while the specification record also describes the deck as solid fiberglass. Wetted surface is about 398 square feet—a broad footprint for a 34-foot hull that points to volume rather than racing fineness.
The immersion rate is 1,161 pounds per inch, indicating that the boat sits heavily for her length. That is consistent with her displacement-to-length ratio of 185.8 and length-to-beam proportion of 2.95, which produces a beamy, roomy midsection.
The theoretical maximum speed for a displacement boat of this length is 7.3 knots, closely matching the design data’s hull speed of 7.24 knots.
Rig and Sail Handling
The Feeling 356 has a fractional sloop rig carrying 667 square feet of sail. Her standing and running rigging dimensions are thoroughly documented. The jib and genoa sheets are each 33.5 feet long and half an inch in diameter. The mainsheet is 83.7 feet long, also with a half-inch diameter, while the spinnaker sheet measures 73.7 feet.
These are substantial lines for a boat of this size, suggesting a cockpit arranged for serious sail control rather than minimalist coastal use. A sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.45 indicates that she is intended to move well in a breeze without being overcanvased.
Capacities and Accommodation Context
The boat carries 53 gallons of water and 24 gallons of diesel. Those capacities, combined with a comfort ratio of 20.17, frame her as a boat for weekends and extended coastal passages rather than bare-minimum cruising.
Her capsize ratio is 2.11. Together with the 39 percent ballast ratio, it describes a stable, self-righting hull form within the modern cruiser class.
Verdict
The Feeling 356 is a thoughtfully engineered 1990s cruiser. Her three-keel strategy is the defining feature, allowing an owner to match draft to the intended cruising area. She is solidly built in fiberglass, with a lead-ballasted deep-keel option and iron shoal-draft alternatives, while the rigging is dimensioned for real sailing.
A buyer should inspect the interior and systems firsthand, since the available authority documents don’t establish those details. Even so, the core platform is coherent and capable.
Pros
- Three keel options, with draft ranging from 2.46 to 6.37 feet, suit varied cruising needs
- The 39 percent ballast ratio and 2.11 capsize ratio indicate a stable hull form
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, with documented rig dimensions
Cons
- The iron drop and shallow keels are more prone to corrosion than the lead keel
- The shallow and drop-keel versions are excluded from many major marinas by the draft limits of deeper ports
- Interior and systems details aren’t established in the available authority documents
