Feeling 920 - Any opinions?

CFarr

CFarr

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I've been looking at Sadler 32's, Fulmars, Moody 31's etc but today came across a very nice looking Feeling 920.
I can find hardly any info about these yachts, how they handle etc, anyone out there got experience of them?
I understand they are a lighter build than the others I'm looking at but I think swmbo will like her better.
It has a 1.7m fin which I imagine would help its stiffness in regard to its flatter bottom.
Any opinions greatly received.
Thanks
Chris
 
FWIW I wouldnt put it in the same sentence as the other three build wise. The Moody will be much the slowest of the bunch.
 
That's what I thought. Thanks for that.
They look fast though, with a nice fine entry, would they be a bit of a handful if they're light?
What about pointing ability? seem to spend all my limited sailing time going upwind.
I'm going to view a Sadler next week which I'm hoping will be the one but this just interested me, very good condition and inventory.
 
CFarr said:
I've been looking at Sadler 32's, Fulmars, Moody 31's etc but today came across a very nice looking Feeling 920.
I can find hardly any info about these yachts, how they handle etc, anyone out there got experience of them?
I understand they are a lighter build than the others I'm looking at but I think swmbo will like her better.
It has a 1.7m fin which I imagine would help its stiffness in regard to its flatter bottom.
Any opinions greatly received.
Thanks
Chris
Click to expand...

I have had one for 25 years and they are brilliant boats. They will certainly outsail the others on your list.

Mine is a fin keel too and I wouldn't entertain a centre-board version. They inspire confidence when the conditions deteriorate (60 knts in the Bay of Biscay) and during several trips back to Ireland.

It is very well balanced and has a very attractive light coloured elm interior.

There was another local one who used to race it seriously and did very well with it. He was sponsored and had new sails every year. I got the choice of his second hand ones if I wanted.

It is an excellent compromise value/economy/performance. I was originally intending to buy a boat around 28' but the broker persuaded me to move up a bit. He said that I would appreciate the gain in space and headroom. He was so confident that he lent me the boat for a cruise.

They are excellent at pointing and are not that light.

Negative points : check for water tightness of windows. (This point is not restricted to Feelings).

FWIW I prefer it to later Feelings of the same size.
 
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According to Byron Handicaps which do not have the 920 but have other Feelings.
Feeling 286 991
Feeling 306 979
Fulmar 974
Moody 31 996
Sadler 32 1004

All the above are deep single keel.
Guessing that the 920 is from interpolation around low 980s
The lower handicaps are the fastest.Shows the Sadler as the slowest but all within 2 to 3
%.
 
Sybarite said:
I have had one for 25 years and they are brilliant boats. They will certainly outsail the others on your list.

Mine is a fin keel too and I wouldn't entertain a centre-board version. They inspire confidence when the conditions deteriorate (60 knts in the Bay of Biscay) and during several trips back to Ireland.

It is very well balanced and has a very attractive light coloured elm interior.

There was another local one who used to race it seriously and did very well with it. He was sponsored and had new sails every year. I got the choice of his second hand ones if I wanted.

It is an excellent compromise value/economy/performance. I was originally intending to buy a boat around 28' but the broker persuaded me to move up a bit. He said that I would appreciate the gain in space and headroom. He was so confident that he lent me the boat for a cruise.

They are excellent at pointing and are not that light.

Negative points : check for water tightness of windows. (This point is not restricted to Feelings).

FWIW I prefer it to later Feelings of the same size.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Thanks Sybarite, If that's the case then well worth a look I think. Swmbo has seen it and in the photos it looks a lot more welcoming than the others, due to the nice light interior, so she already has a preference for it.
It will be me that sails it more often though so I don't have to fully conform:)

I have to think of residuals though and I get the impression this will fall in value quicker than the others?

Edit: Just to add that I will not be racing her. A seaworthy passage-maker is what I'm after, good to wind and can handle a blow.
 
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CFarr said:
I have to think of residuals though and I get the impression this will fall in value quicker than the others?
Click to expand...
Sounds good to me! We have seen many Feelings in France and I love them to bits. I was gutted when they went out of business in the summer as I'd love a 44.
 
CFarr said:
I have to think of residuals though and I get the impression this will fall in value quicker than the others?
Click to expand...

Not sure residuals is an issue on boats of this age. They have reached a level where value is determined more by condition than the specific boat model. If you are attracted to the boat now, no reason why it should not be attractive in 5 years' time if still in good condition.
 
Sybarite said:
I have had one for 25 years and they are brilliant boats. They will certainly outsail the others on your list.

Mine is a fin keel too and I wouldn't entertain a centre-board version. They inspire confidence when the conditions deteriorate (60 knts in the Bay of Biscay) and during several trips back to Ireland.

It is very well balanced and has a very attractive light coloured elm interior.

There was another local one who used to race it seriously and did very well with it. He was sponsored and had new sails every year. I got the choice of his second hand ones if I wanted.

It is an excellent compromise value/economy/performance. I was originally intending to buy a boat around 28' but the broker persuaded me to move up a bit. He said that I would appreciate the gain in space and headroom. He was so confident that he lent me the boat for a cruise.

They are excellent at pointing and are not that light.

Negative points : check for water tightness of windows. (This point is not restricted to Feelings).

FWIW I prefer it to later Feelings of the same size.
Click to expand...

+ 1........
 
Sybarite said:
I have had one for 25 years and they are brilliant boats. They will certainly outsail the others on your list.

Mine is a fin keel too and I wouldn't entertain a centre-board version. They inspire confidence when the conditions deteriorate (60 knts in the Bay of Biscay) and during several trips back to Ireland.

It is very well balanced and has a very attractive light coloured elm interior.

There was another local one who used to race it seriously and did very well with it. He was sponsored and had new sails every year. I got the choice of his second hand ones if I wanted.

It is an excellent compromise value/economy/performance. I was originally intending to buy a boat around 28' but the broker persuaded me to move up a bit. He said that I would appreciate the gain in space and headroom. He was so confident that he lent me the boat for a cruise.

They are excellent at pointing and are not that light.

Negative points : check for water tightness of windows. (This point is not restricted to Feelings).

FWIW I prefer it to later Feelings of the same size.
Click to expand...

+ 1 .....
 
CFarr said:
Edit: Just to add that I will not be racing her. A seaworthy passage-maker is what I'm after, good to wind and can handle a blow.
Click to expand...
Any of the other 3 then - my preference would be the Sadler - nice feeling knowing she is "unsinkable" - same as the Etaps.
 
A friend has a Feeling fin keeler, about 35'; he is a highly experienced sailor and engineer, and wouldn't put up with poor build quality.

His previous boat - which he built himself - was a go anywhere ferro job, a lovely boat but he got the Feeling as she would actually go to places quickly rather than take her time slowly trundling along en route !
 
Sadler have a good owners assoc., and the sadler is a good comfortable and well thought of yacht. Probably a little more comfortable in a blow (?), certainly a softer motion, but that is subjective, and most boats are stronger that their crews!
The sadler 29 will be slightly slower and smaller below than the feeling...
As usual, horses for courses: I'm becoming less sure that there are any quantifiably BAD boats out there, it just depends on ones priorities etc.
I was worried that my 286 would be a flighty tippy thing as were (?) all French production boats??? No she is not, that was just me believing some prejudices.....

Now a Sadler 290.........????

where did I get Sadler 29 from??? oh well.......dementia beckons: the 32 is a legendary sea boat, (but not "unsinkable" in the same way as the 29 and 34) a slightly roomier contessa? The Fulmar even more so, a fabulous boat, and one of the best Owners Assoc out there....? The Feeling will be roomier with an aft cabin, but there is much to merit them all.

Moody 31...nearly bought one instead of the Feeling 286. Again very well thought of and attractive. A bit oppressive below for my tastes
 
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Just picked up on this thread... Having owned a Feeling 920 for 10 years I echo the sentiments that they are well built boats (certainly relative to their French peers) and are great to sail. They make competitive club racers while still being capable of comfortable cross channel cruising. For their size they are long-legged, we have frequently made it to South Brittany and back in a 2 week holiday as well as the West Coast of Ireland among other destinations. Short/single handing is easy due to good cockpit layout. Below decks they are streets ahead of other yachts of the era, offering a generous aft cabin, aft heads with large wet locker and a light, airy saloon. I would take one in preference to most modern boats of this size, let alone others of the same age.
 
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