Design Brief & Intent
Chantiers Kirié of Les Sables d’Olonne historically focused on small wooden craft and later their "Fifty" range of heavy motorsailers. By the mid-1980s, however, the French market demanded faster, sleeker designs to compete with established giants like Jeanneau and Beneteau. The Feeling 850 was Kirié’s response. It was designed to serve as an agile club racer on weekends while providing genuine, comfortable accommodations for coastal family cruising during holidays.
Below decks, the Feeling 850 broke traditional yachting design rules. Instead of the dark, compartmentalized mahogany cabins typical of the era, Kirié implemented light-colored elm (orme) joinery and an expansive, open-concept salon. By eliminating the traditional bulkhead separating the forward V-berth (configured as an open "Breton bed") from the main salon, Briand created an interior that felt significantly larger and brighter than any contemporary 28-foot competitor. The wide beam was carried far aft, which allowed Kirié to fit a surprisingly spacious double aft cabin and a dedicated navigation station—luxuries that were virtually unheard of in this size class during the mid-1980s.
Variations & Configurations
Kirié produced the Feeling 850 in three distinct models to appeal to different segments of the market. The Cruising version featured a moderate masthead sloop rig with simplified controls and a standard fixed cast iron fin keel drawing 1.7 meters (5 feet 7 inches). For sailors exploring thin-water coastlines or tidal estuaries, Kirié offered a lifting keel option (dériveur lesté). This variant utilized a swing centerboard that reduced the minimum draft to an impressive 0.9 meters (3 feet 1 inch), allowing the boat to navigate shallow creeks and safely dry out on a sandy grid.
For racing enthusiasts, the Racing and Special versions offered a highly adjustable fractional rig (typically 7/8ths or 3/4ths) with double spreaders and running backstays (bastaques). These performance-oriented models were often equipped with a deep lead keel to maximize righting moment. They also featured an integrated sugar-scoop transom that slightly extended the overall length, optimizing the boat’s waterline under heel and providing an excellent platform for swimming and boarding.
Sailing Performance & Handling
At the helm, the Feeling 850’s racing heritage is immediately apparent. With a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 21.52, the boat is lively, responsive, and exceptionally fast in light-to-moderate air. It accelerates quickly out of tacks and can easily outpace heavier cruising designs of its era. However, this agility comes with a trade-off in stability. The ballast-to-displacement ratio of 33.34%, paired with a wide, relatively flat-bottomed hull, means the boat has low initial stability. It heels quickly in a gust and must be reefed early—typically when true wind speeds reach 12 to 15 knots—to keep the boat sailing upright, maintain rudder control, and prevent excessive leeway.
Its displacement-to-length ratio of 202.26 characterizes the Feeling 850 as a moderate-displacement cruiser-racer. In flat water, it behaves like a lightweight dinghy, but its motion in a seaway is energetic. A comfort ratio of 17.51 indicates a snappy, rapid motion rather than the gentle, heavy roll of a traditional cruising boat. While a skilled helmsperson will find it highly engaging, the active motion can be fatiguing for the crew on long offshore passages. Additionally, its capsize screening ratio of 2.24 confirms that this beamy, lightweight design is optimized for coastal waters and semi-offshore racing rather than high-latitude blue-water voyaging.
Market Snapshot & Economics
On the brokerage market, the Feeling 850 remains an attractive, high-value option for budget-conscious sailors seeking performance. While relatively rare in North America, they are common in European waters, particularly along the coastlines of France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. The boat trades at a reasonable price point, offering a substantial amount of interior volume and sailing capability for the money.
However, prospective buyers must carefully weigh the economics of a refit. Because these hulls are now decades old, many are still powered by their original single-cylinder Volvo Penta 2001 or twin-cylinder 2002 diesel engines. Sourcing parts for these older powerplants is becoming increasingly difficult, and a professional engine replacement can easily equal or exceed the purchase price of the vessel itself. Therefore, boats that have already undergone a documented engine swap or a comprehensive modern refit command a premium and represent a much safer financial investment.
Known Issues & Triage
Any surveyor inspecting a Feeling 850 must pay close attention to several documented, age-related vulnerabilities. The deck is constructed as a balsa sandwich, which provides excellent stiffness and thermal insulation but is highly vulnerable to moisture. Over time, water can penetrate the core through poorly sealed stanchion bases, chainplates, or aftermarket deck hardware, leading to localized rot and soft spots. A thorough moisture-meter survey of the deck is an absolute necessity.
On the hull, the cast iron fin keel requires careful examination. In some production batches, Kirié wrapped the cast iron in a layer of fiberglass stratification. This encapsulation can trap moisture against the iron, leading to hidden corrosion, rust expansion, and the eventual delamination of the fiberglass skin. The spade rudder is also prone to developing play; the internal nylon or bronze bushings wear down over time, requiring the rudder to be dropped and the bearings replaced to restore tight, responsive steering.
Mechanically, the original raw-water-cooled Volvo Penta engines are prone to internal scale buildup, which restricts water flow and causes chronic overheating. Additionally, these specific drivetrains are notorious for wearing down the splines on the gearbox output shaft. If these splines strip, the engine will fail to engage the propeller shaft, leaving the boat without auxiliary power.
Modernization & Upgrades
Many veteran owners have successfully modernized the Feeling 850 to align with contemporary cruising standards. Because of its light displacement and easily driven hull form, the model has become a popular candidate for electric propulsion conversions. Replacing the heavy, vibrating diesel engine with a modern electric pod or shaft-drive system—such as a 6 kW motor paired with an 8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery bank—saves weight in the stern, eliminates diesel fumes, and provides ample range for harbor maneuvers and light-wind daysailing.
For owners who prefer the range of internal combustion, repowering with a modern, fresh-water-cooled diesel (typically 14 to 16 horsepower) is a highly recommended upgrade. This modification resolves the chronic cooling and spline wear issues of the original Volvo Penta units while adding charging capacity via high-output alternators.
On deck, replacing older wire halyards with modern low-stretch Dyneema lines significantly improves sail control and performance, particularly on the fractional rig versions. Indoors, the most common aesthetic upgrade involves addressing the cabin headliner. The original vinyl headliner was installed using foam-backed adhesive, which inevitably degrades into a sticky, sagging residue. Modernizing this involves scraping away the old foam and installing clean, durable marine vinyl or light-colored wooden slats to maintain the salon’s signature bright, open feel.
The Verdict
The Feeling 850 is a fast, stylish, and highly innovative pocket cruiser that punches well above its weight class. For coastal sailors who prioritize lively handling, light-air performance, and a bright, open cabin, it remains one of the most rewarding and affordable options of its era. While it requires early reefing in heavy weather and demands a careful pre-purchase survey to identify potential deck and keel issues, a well-maintained example offers a level of sailing joy and accommodation space that few modern boats can match at this size.
Pros
- Lively, responsive handling with exceptional light-air sailing speed.
- Revolutionary open-plan cabin layout that feels incredibly bright and spacious.
- Innovative inclusion of a private aft cabin and separate head on a 28-foot hull.
- Highly versatile lifting keel option available for shallow-water cruising.
- Lightweight hull is an excellent candidate for modern electric propulsion conversions.
Cons 2
- Tender initial stability requires proactive and early reefing in moderate breezes.
- Active, snappy motion in a seaway can be physically tiring on longer passages.
- Vulnerable to balsa deck core rot and hidden corrosion on encapsulated iron keels.
- Original raw-water-cooled engines are prone to overheating and spline failure.
- Limited cockpit and interior storage capacity for long-term cruising gear.
