Feeling 36 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Kirié built the Feeling 36 the old-fashioned way, without structural counter-molds, relying instead on resin-bonded stringers and spars at the bottom for the reinforcing framework. The hull lamination is single skin with thicknesses approaching 30 mm on the bottom, while the deck is a balsa sandwich; hull and deck bulkheads are resin-coated, and the hull and deck are bonded together not only at the outer joint but also by bulkheads resined to both surfaces around the perimeter. Interior joinery makes extensive use of glued laminated timber, and the cast-iron bulb is coated with an epoxy cycle rather than left bare. Rudder-blade smoothness comes from self-aligning bushings.

The hull itself was created with the movable-drive configuration in mind, reflected in the hull width at the waterline needed for high form stability. Very full bow sections paired with a set-back ballast position give her volume and poise; in the fixed-keel version, that form stability lets the ballast percentage sit at a modest 31 percent of displacement, and the fixed fin draws 2 meters. The daggerboard variant reduces draft to just over 70 cm. The fixed-keel model is lighter by 400 kg than the board version. Classic Boat Archive noted that the design suffers from a large wetted area and a low sail-area-to-displacement ratio, yet the near-10-meter waterline still yields a critical speed over 7.5 knots.

Rig and Handling

Up top, the Feeling 36 is a fractional sloop with 9/10 double-row quartered spreaders and a deck-stepped Sparcraft mast supported by continuous spiral cable rigging. The genoa measures 37.2 sq. m. at 135 percent against a 31.2 sq. m. mainsail. Two closed-circuit reefing lines let the whole shortening process be handled from the cockpit, and a prepared bow fitting accepts an optional aluminum gennaker sprit. The two genoa winches are set inboard rather than atop the coachroof coaming, which shortens the cockpit settee tops by a noticeable margin. The mainsail traveller sits ahead of the compass binnacle and carries adjustment cleats that are awkward to reach.

Test sailors found her sluggish off the line in light air but able to claw up a respectable windward angle once moving. Above 12 knots she gains agility and the rudder feels remarkably light even when well heeled. In a seaway she slaps around a bit yet stays dry thanks to her full volumes and strong buoyancy, and easing the windward course a few degrees softens the motion while adding over half a knot. The standard Volvo 29-hp with shaft drive and a two-blade fixed prop proved adequate, with good reverse maneuverability and all-around engine access, though noise levels under power run slightly high. The small steering wheel does not permit leaning against the rear coaming while steering.

Accommodations

The two-tier deckhouse sets her apart visually, and forward of it lie two broad sunbathing areas split by a pair of central hatches. Below, the saloon runs 3.65 meters thanks to a markedly set-back companionway stair, with headroom near 2 meters at the foot of the descent. Berth dimensions and interior heights sit above the norm for the size, and the aft berths measure 120 cm at the foot. Buyers could choose two or three cabins plus a head. Stowage is generous: twin lockers under the cockpit benches have wide ports for bulky gear, double lockers fill the aft cabins, and both settee sofas have free space beneath. In the fixed-bulb boat, the centerboard case becomes a storage box whose structure doubles as a handrail and carries two asymmetrical table leaves. A forward water tank (the second sits aft) drew note for its pitch-sensitive location.

Known Issues

A few faults are baked into the design. The two central deckhouse hatches sit too close together, so the open forward sash steals air from the rear one at the wheel. Ventilation in both saloon and aft cabins is poor, and the aft cabins get only one standard porthole each. The electrical panel is sparse and lacks an ammeter, while the standard 2 x 65 Ah batteries — though housed in a gas-extracting watertight case — are undersized. The bilge sump is small. Standard equipment is meager: fridge, electric windlass, boiler, and battery charger were all optional, and the standard short-batten main and furling genoa were of mediocre quality.

The Verdict

The Feeling 36 is a structurally serious cruiser with clever volume management and a genuinely versatile draft choice, let down by thin standard spec and some ergonomic blind spots. She rewards an owner willing to upgrade systems and live with her ventilation limits.

Pros