longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
A mate of mine is interested in a Feeling 10.4 but knows absolutely nothing about them. Has anyone owned or crewed on one. If so any pointers, good or bad, would be appreciated. TIA
Feeling Yachts, anyone have any experience of them?
- Thread starter longjohnsilver
- Start date
Judders
Well-Known Member
Yep! I own and sail a 1984 Feeling 720 and I absolutely love it. It's a real cut above the similiar sizes Ben, Jens and Hunter's of the same age. It goes like the proverbial rocket, tacks on a hapney and the accomodation is far better, far smarter and far more practical than the equivelents from the better known brands. The lay-up isn't nearly so thick and the keel mechanism on the lifting keel versions of that age was not perhaps as good as others but all in all, great boats and great value.
The new ones are gorgeous too. I should quite happilly always be a Feeling owner!
The new ones are gorgeous too. I should quite happilly always be a Feeling owner!
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that, it's a late 80s boat. Only potential drawback they could see was the lack of stowage, very few cupboards and and drawers, particularly as they plan to go on extended cruises of 6 months or so at a time. But they do seem very good value for money. BTW do you know where they are made? They thought France but broker says Holland.
Athene V30
Well-Known Member
I spent a few months working for one of the brokers selling Feelings in 1983. At the time I thought they were nice looking boats that sailed pretty well but would they last the years? Always seemed fairly flimsy construction to me. Not sailed one since.
Eeyore
Well-Known Member
Chartered a 39 in the Carib. some years ago - nice boat!
Built by Kirie, Les Sables d'Olonne, France.
Built by Kirie, Les Sables d'Olonne, France.
Judders
Well-Known Member
I believe mine was built in La Rochelle with production moving to Les Sables after Kirie took over.
They are lightly built, it's true, but I'm not aware of this having caused many problems. I would not like to get t-boned but then I would not like to get t-boned in any other boat either and of course it is that lightly builtness that gives them the pace.
As for the stowage, I find it's pretty good but my keel problems have meant a lot of the bin lockers getting wet. That said of course, the late eighties versions were more race orientated so rather like the modern Js, it may well be limited.
They are lightly built, it's true, but I'm not aware of this having caused many problems. I would not like to get t-boned but then I would not like to get t-boned in any other boat either and of course it is that lightly builtness that gives them the pace.
As for the stowage, I find it's pretty good but my keel problems have meant a lot of the bin lockers getting wet. That said of course, the late eighties versions were more race orientated so rather like the modern Js, it may well be limited.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
Twice I've seen a Feeling with P bracket failure caused by a rubble sack and a fishing net respectively. One boat nearly sank as the unrestrained prop cut through the hull.
feelingkarma
Active Member
Hi
Is it this one....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21903635@N06/sets/72157608505072630/
If so , it has more storage than he would be aware of and
if he wants an in depth analysis of the boat ask him to pm me .
It was built in France and was sailed back from Holland three years ago when I bought it and I have thoroughly enjoyed it .
It is only for sale due to some totally unexpected and seriously bad news about my health .
If anyone else is interested please get in touch .
Is it this one....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21903635@N06/sets/72157608505072630/
If so , it has more storage than he would be aware of and
if he wants an in depth analysis of the boat ask him to pm me .
It was built in France and was sailed back from Holland three years ago when I bought it and I have thoroughly enjoyed it .
It is only for sale due to some totally unexpected and seriously bad news about my health .
If anyone else is interested please get in touch .
Spyro
Well-Known Member
Intereseting you should say that about the P bracket I looked at one about 6 months ago when it was up for sale and the P bracket was cracked and moving around where it was fixed to the hull.
BlueSkyNick
Well-Known Member
No experience of a 1040, but a friend has had a 920 since new (about 18yrs I think) which is PDQ, as well as in good nick and comfortable. (ahem, and it's up for sale /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )
Judders
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Intereseting you should say that about the P bracket I looked at one about 6 months ago when it was up for sale and the P bracket was cracked and moving around where it was fixed to the hull.
[/ QUOTE ]
As evidenced in the Elan thread, part of the compromise with lighter and faster boats is that they will suffer more in any sort of impact. As with my keel, I dare say there are boats with a thicker lay up out there for whom there would have been no problem or perhaps not so serious a problem, just ask Alex Thompson!
Intereseting you should say that about the P bracket I looked at one about 6 months ago when it was up for sale and the P bracket was cracked and moving around where it was fixed to the hull.
[/ QUOTE ]
As evidenced in the Elan thread, part of the compromise with lighter and faster boats is that they will suffer more in any sort of impact. As with my keel, I dare say there are boats with a thicker lay up out there for whom there would have been no problem or perhaps not so serious a problem, just ask Alex Thompson!
dancingwithmoons
Well-Known Member
Is it the one reviewed in Sailing Today December issue as that is, I notice, for sale in the ads at the back
It's sailed out of Marchwood and go's very well
No connection just see the boat out and about
It's sailed out of Marchwood and go's very well
No connection just see the boat out and about
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Early boats had a a very good reputation, but since the amalgamation with Beneteau they've been aimed at the lower market go-faster cruiser racer and build has got a bit flimsier.
Still go well and a delight to sail.
Still go well and a delight to sail.
geoffcollins
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Chartered a 39 in the Carib. some years ago - nice boat!
Built by Kirie, Les Sables d'Olonne, France.
[/ QUOTE ]
We chartered one too the Caribbean too last Christmas...It wasn't called Frivole was it?
We thought it sailed really well. The only downpoint was it was showing every one of it's 10 years in charter in it's interior. Saggy headlinings, worthless electronics & unreliable engine. She did sail well though...
Geoff
Chartered a 39 in the Carib. some years ago - nice boat!
Built by Kirie, Les Sables d'Olonne, France.
[/ QUOTE ]
We chartered one too the Caribbean too last Christmas...It wasn't called Frivole was it?
We thought it sailed really well. The only downpoint was it was showing every one of it's 10 years in charter in it's interior. Saggy headlinings, worthless electronics & unreliable engine. She did sail well though...
Geoff
P4Paul
Well-Known Member
I didn't realise that they had joined the Benniteau stable, I thought they were still part of Alliaura.
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone for the info, my friend has read this thread so it's now over to them to make a few decisions.
cardinals
Member
Hi there
I have a 2001 feeling 39 swing keel and rate it very highly. I spent a great deal of time looking at boats of this size and felt Feeling was by far the best price / quality compromise.
Whilst not quite a Swan they are far better built than most - excellent joinery and fit out with a quality glass fibre layup; mine spent seven years on fresh water (normally a guarantee of osmosis) and still has low moisture readings.
The layout is great for a family of four and then there is the convenience of parking on a beach! Not too bad to sail with twin rudders giving good grip. It points OK and has a reasonabl motion. (Start reefing the main at 25 knots plus - 30 if you want to pinch)
I have owned the boat for a year and used it every weekend without any faults showing up - touch wood.
Hope that helps
Cheers
I have a 2001 feeling 39 swing keel and rate it very highly. I spent a great deal of time looking at boats of this size and felt Feeling was by far the best price / quality compromise.
Whilst not quite a Swan they are far better built than most - excellent joinery and fit out with a quality glass fibre layup; mine spent seven years on fresh water (normally a guarantee of osmosis) and still has low moisture readings.
The layout is great for a family of four and then there is the convenience of parking on a beach! Not too bad to sail with twin rudders giving good grip. It points OK and has a reasonabl motion. (Start reefing the main at 25 knots plus - 30 if you want to pinch)
I have owned the boat for a year and used it every weekend without any faults showing up - touch wood.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Mertens
New Member
Chartered one in the med a couple of years back. This was a feeling 326 with a lifting keel and a furling main. Worst boat I've ever sailed. Hard to handle in a marine due to enormous windage and not much fun to sail with its hugely underpowered rig. Accomodation is a big plus for this boat, although the centreboard does cut the cabin in half.
I wouldn't sail one if it came for free...
I wouldn't sail one if it came for free...
Judders
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Chartered one in the med a couple of years back. This was a feeling 326 with a lifting keel and a furling main. Worst boat I've ever sailed. Hard to handle in a marine due to enormous windage and not much fun to sail with its hugely underpowered rig. Accomodation is a big plus for this boat, although the centreboard does cut the cabin in half.
I wouldn't sail one if it came for free...
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you sure? The 326 has no great windage compared to similiar boats. Did you try taking the sail down?
As for the keelbox, most of it is under the hull. IIRC the middle of the table pedestal on the 326 is full of keelbox but it does not come above table height. The cabin is therefore no more cut in half than any 32'er which has a table in the centre.
Chartered one in the med a couple of years back. This was a feeling 326 with a lifting keel and a furling main. Worst boat I've ever sailed. Hard to handle in a marine due to enormous windage and not much fun to sail with its hugely underpowered rig. Accomodation is a big plus for this boat, although the centreboard does cut the cabin in half.
I wouldn't sail one if it came for free...
[/ QUOTE ]
Are you sure? The 326 has no great windage compared to similiar boats. Did you try taking the sail down?
As for the keelbox, most of it is under the hull. IIRC the middle of the table pedestal on the 326 is full of keelbox but it does not come above table height. The cabin is therefore no more cut in half than any 32'er which has a table in the centre.
Judders
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I didn't realise that they had joined the Benniteau stable, I thought they were still part of Alliaura.
[/ QUOTE ]
They haven't and they still are.
I didn't realise that they had joined the Benniteau stable, I thought they were still part of Alliaura.
[/ QUOTE ]
They haven't and they still are.
