The Feeling 446 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Feeling 446, an aft cockpit sloop, was designed by Philippe Harlé and built in France by Kirie.

A Feeling 446

Published Specification for the Feeling 446

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 45'3" (13.8m)

Waterline Length: 35'5" (10.8m)

Beam: 14'9" (4.5m)

Draft: 5'3" (1.6m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 19,900lb (9,026kg)

Designer: Philippe Harlé

Builder: Kirie (France)

Year First Built: 1990

Published Design Ratios for the Feeling 446

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.6

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 30.2

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 200

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 22.2

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.2

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Feeling 446

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 15.6 suggests that the Feeling 446 will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 30.2 means that a sailboat like the Feeling 446 (which doesn't have a stiffness-enhancing bulb keel), is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 200, tells us the Feeling 446 is a light-to-moderate displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 22.2 suggests that crew comfort of a Feeling 446 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.2 tells us that a Feeling 446 would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas, when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.