What truly set the Feeling 960 apart from its mainstream rivals was the treatment of its interior space. While most builders of the era relied on dark, heavy teak joinery that could make 32-foot cabins feel confined, Kirié outfitted the Feeling line with light elm wood. This design choice, combined with large deckhouse windows and an open-concept layout, created a remarkably bright, modern, and Scandinavian-inspired living area that made the vessel feel significantly larger than its physical footprint.
Variations & Configurations
Kirié produced the Feeling 960 in three distinct underbody configurations to cater to different cruising grounds. The deep-draft version features a fixed fin keel drawing 5.9 feet, which optimizes lift and minimizes leeway, making it the preferred choice for sailors prioritizing upwind racing performance. For shallow-water regions, the shoal-draft version utilizes a shorter, elongated fin keel drawing 4.3 feet, reducing draft without completely sacrificing tracking ability.
The most mechanically complex option is the keel-and-centerboard version, known in French as the dériveur lesté. This configuration houses a pivoting steel centerboard inside a cast-iron winglet shoe. With the board fully retracted, the draft is reduced to just over 3 feet, allowing the boat to navigate estuaries, crawl into shallow anchorages, or even dry out on sandy bottoms when properly supported. With the centerboard fully lowered to 6.3 feet, the boat regains the hydrodynamic profile necessary for offshore tacking angles.
Across all variations, the rig remains a masthead sloop with aluminum spars, typically supplied by Francespar, and deck hardware from Goiot. The interior layout was standardized around a two-cabin arrangement: a forward V-berth, a central saloon with a drop-leaf table and U-shaped settee, a linear or L-shaped galley to port, a dedicated navigation station, a single head to starboard, and an enclosed double cabin tucked under the cockpit sole on the port side.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The Feeling 960 is characterized by its balanced sail plan and responsive, predictable handling. With a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 17.0, the boat is a highly capable light-air performer. It accelerates quickly out of tacks and can maintain momentum through flukes where heavier cruisers of the same era stall. Under sail, the 34.88% ballast-to-displacement ratio provides respectable initial stability. However, because the hull form relies heavily on form stability derived from its broad beam, the boat will sail best when kept relatively flat; reefing the mainsail early, typically around 15 to 18 knots of apparent wind, keeps the helm light and prevents excessive leeway.
With a displacement-to-length ratio of 226.97, the boat falls squarely into the moderate displacement category. It tracks smoothly through typical coastal chop without the violent pounding associated with ultra-light racers, though its comfort ratio of 20.66 indicates a relatively lively motion in a heavy seaway. The capsize screening ratio of 2.07 sits just above the traditional ocean-passage threshold of 2.0. This ratio reflects the design's wide beam of 10.58 feet, which is carried far aft to maximize cockpit space and accommodate the aft double cabin. This beam distribution makes the boat incredibly stable and fast on downwind and reaching angles, but it also means the boat is best suited for coastal and offshore cruising rather than high-latitude, extreme-weather voyaging. Helmed via a responsive tiller attached to a balanced spade rudder, the boat offers excellent tactile feedback and high maneuverability in tight marina slips.
Market Snapshot & Economics
The Feeling 960 occupies a niche, value-focused position on the secondary market. Because Chantier Kirié was a mid-sized builder compared to the industrial giants of the era, production of the 960 was relatively limited, with under 100 hulls completed before the model was phased out. Consequently, they do not appear on the market with the frequency of a Beneteau or Jeanneau, but when they do, they generally trade at a modest discount compared to their higher-profile competitors.
For buyers seeking a spacious, light-filled pocket cruiser that performs well, the Feeling 960 represents an exceptional value. However, prospective owners must carefully calculate the economics of vintage boat ownership. Because these vessels are now decades old, common refit requirements—such as standing rigging replacement, sail replacement, and electronics modernization—can quickly equal or exceed the initial purchase price. Finding a hull where previous owners have already tackled major system upgrades is critical to keeping overall ownership costs manageable.
Known Issues & Triage
Age-related degradation and specific construction practices of the 1980s have highlighted several areas requiring close inspection on the Feeling 960.
- The Keel-to-Hull Joint: On the fixed-keel versions, the cast-iron keel is mated to the fiberglass hull using steel keel bolts. Over time, water can seep into this joint, leading to rust scaling and the typical rust bleeding known as the "keel smile." On some hulls in the Feeling range, Kirié recessed the keel bolt nuts into pockets on the side of the keel, which were then glassed over at the factory. If water gets trapped behind these glassed-over pockets, the bolts can corrode invisibly. A surveyor should tap these areas for voids and inspect the bilge-side backing plates for signs of floor-grid deflection or weeping.
- Deck Leaks & Elm Joinery: The aluminum-framed side portlights and Goiot deck hatches are prone to gasket failure and frame distortion. Because the interior is finished in light-colored elm veneer, water leaks will rapidly cause dark water-staining and delamination of the woodwork around the salon and berths. Unaddressed deck leaks will ruin the interior's primary aesthetic appeal and can lead to localized rot in the balsa-cored deck sandwich.
- Volvo Penta 2002 Engine Vulnerabilities: The majority of Feeling 960 models were delivered with the raw-water-cooled, two-cylinder Volvo Penta 2002 diesel engine. While mechanically simple, this engine has several known failure points. The copper injector sleeves can deteriorate over time, allowing combustion gases to leak into the cooling system or engine compartment. Additionally, the raw-water cooling passages in the cylinder head are highly susceptible to salt scale buildup, which restricts water flow and causes localized overheating. Finally, the spline connection between the flywheel damper plate and the gearbox input shaft is a known wear point; if the splines strip, the engine will run perfectly but the vessel will lose all propulsion.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modernizing a Feeling 960 typically focuses on updating the electrical systems, improving the sail handling, and refreshing the interior.
The factory electrical system was basic, often consisting of just one house battery and one starting battery. Modern owners frequently upgrade these systems by installing a dedicated lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) house bank, which provides the capacity needed for modern refrigeration and navigation instruments without adding excessive weight. To support this, owners add flexible solar panels on the cabin top or construct a custom stainless steel arch over the stern.
To make single-handed or shorthanded sailing easier, many owners have led all halyards, reefing lines, and mainsheet controls aft to the cockpit. This requires installing deck organizers, modern rope clutches, and occasionally upgrading the primary winches to self-tailing models. Because the original raw-water-cooled engines are reaching the end of their reliable lifespans, repowering with a modern, fresh-water-cooled diesel (such as a Beta Marine or Yanmar) is a common high-value upgrade that resolves long-term mechanical anxieties 5.
The Verdict
The Feeling 960 remains an intelligent option for the cruising family or budget-conscious sailor who wants a boat that is rewarding to sail and pleasant to live aboard. Thanks to Philippe Harlé's hull design and the light elm interior, the boat successfully avoids the dark, heavy feel of many 1980s cruisers while offering performance that will satisfy club racers. So long as buyers are prepared to inspect the keel bolts, address window leaks, and assess the health of the Volvo Penta engine, this classic French cruiser offers an appealing blend of style, space, and speed.
- Exceptionally bright and airy cabin utilizing light elm wood joinery.
- Strong light-air sailing performance and responsive tiller steering.
- Versatile draft options, including a highly capable keel-and-centerboard version.
- Excellent headroom and interior volume for a 32-foot boat.
- Well-balanced hull that handles off-wind tracking with ease.
- Cast-iron keels and hidden keel bolt pockets require careful maintenance to prevent corrosion.
- Light elm wood veneer easily shows permanent cosmetic damage from portlight leaks.
- Original Volvo Penta 2002 engines are prone to costly raw-water scale and spline wear issues.
- High capsize screening ratio limits her suitability for extreme heavy-weather or high-latitude voyaging.
- Limited production run makes finding parts-matching and sistership advice more difficult than with high-volume production brands.
