Feeling 326

[sighmoon]

Has anybody any experience with the Feeling 326, particularly the lifting keel version?

Build quality? Sailing performance? Does the lifting keel work reliably?

 

[colingr]

Not the 326 but a mate has a 41 which spent the first 2 years having the keel fiddled with as it stuck, came loose, wobbled about then fell off!

He's stuck with it and now (after 7 or 8 years) I believe it is OK.

 

[bob234]

I had a Feeling 326 for 3 years from new. Fixed keel I'm afraid so can't comment on lift keel.

As to performance - I absolutely loved her. Bit like a big dinghy, need to reef early because she was a little tender. F5 upwind was a challenge but offwind was wonderful. Had to reef the genoa before the main for good offwind control in a blow. Up to F4 nothing cruisy of a similar size seemed to touch her (I'm not including X Yachts etc).

Build quality - topsides were a bit delicate, you certainly couldn't afford to glance a pontoon with any force (yes, I did that). Bulkheads were all quiet, no creaking, but don't have experience of how well they stand up to prolonged usage.

A lovely boat, but definitely worth a test sail to check no undue flexing/creaking, plus a survey of course.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Judders]

I have an older and smaller Feeling. They are fantastic boats in so many ways. Most of all in light airs. We can outsail pretty much any cruiser in the light unless we are feeling particularly rough as we were on sunday. The lifting keel is, however, the achillies heel. Mine continues to be a royal pain in the posterior.

 

[cardinals]

I've got a 39 - I've had no problems with the keel and take the ground frequently. Boat is 8 years old so can't comment on previous owner's experience.

Overall quality of boat is excellent, especially joinery.

Lifting keel is a fabulous benefit for North Wales cruising

Cheers.

 

[Judders]

[ QUOTE ]
I've got a 39 - I've had no problems with the keel and take the ground frequently.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you ever dry out on soft mud?

 

[TBeagle]

Feeling 326 Lifting Keel

I have a Feeling 326 with a lifting keel which has been modified by a previous owner from the original arrangement, as shown in the boats handbook. The present set-up works well and is easy to use. The keel itself is GRP, so the "weight" of the boat is in its ballasted sole. She is tender and needs reefing down earlier than most equivalent yachts but, as others have said, if you keep her upright she really goes. Of course, on a reach or downwind, with the keel raised, she is at her best.
When I bought her she had in-mast roller reefing with a fully battened (vertical) main. This did not suit her as putting more weight aloft made her even more tender; and I never would have a fully battened main on a roller again anyway.
All in all a very good, comfortable and fast boat whose weight (9 tons) makes her very good in a seaway.

 

[30boat]

I have a Feeling 326 with a lifting keel which has been modified by a previous owner from the original arrangement, as shown in the boats handbook. The present set-up works well and is easy to use. The keel itself is GRP, so the "weight" of the boat is in its ballasted sole. She is tender and needs reefing down earlier than most equivalent yachts but, as others have said, if you keep her upright she really goes. Of course, on a reach or downwind, with the keel raised, she is at her best.
When I bought her she had in-mast roller reefing with a fully battened (vertical) main. This did not suit her as putting more weight aloft made her even more tender; and I never would have a fully battened main on a roller again anyway.
All in all a very good, comfortable and fast boat whose weight (9 tons) makes her very good in a seaway.

Are you sure about the weight?My Fulmar weighs less than 5 and the ballast ratio is 42%.

 

[TBeagle]

Pretty sure. There is a plaque that is engraved with the tonnage giving 8.7. and with the fuel, water and all the clobber it probably weighs in at 9.

 

[FullCircle]

Displacement for 326 is 8600lbs, not kgs.....


http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/feeling-326/feeling-326.htm

 

[Tranona]

Pretty sure. There is a plaque that is engraved with the tonnage giving 8.7. and with the fuel, water and all the clobber it probably weighs in at 9.

That is probably its registered tonnage - nothing to do with weight. You will probably find an official number on the plaque as well. This is its registration number on the registry (although it may not be still on the regoister if you have not registered your ownership).

 

[TBeagle]

Noted, but I'll check on the detailled inscription on the boat and post that.

 

[TBeagle]

You are right. Thank you.

 

[Spyro]

I looked at one once and it had a wobbly P bracket. Not sure if this is an inherent problem or just that particular one.

 

[TBeagle]

No problem there. I find the Feeling 326 still a very friendly boat. (Sounds like I'm trying to sell it, but I'm not - yet.)