Main features | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Model | Elite 324 | Elite 324 | Elite 324 |
Version | Deep draft | Shoal draft | Keel and centerboard |
Hull type | Monohull | Monohull | Monohull |
Category | Cruiser-racer sailboat | Cruiser-racer sailboat | Cruiser-racer sailboat |
Sailboat builder | Kirié | Kirié | Kirié |
Sailboat designer | |||
Sailboat range | |||
Country | France | France | France |
Construction | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich fiberglass polyester | GRP (glass reinforced polyester): - Hull: Single skin fiberglass polyester - Deck: Sandwich fiberglass polyester |
Number of hulls built | About 90 | About 90 | About 90 |
First built hull | 1986 | 1986 | 1986 |
Last built hull | 1988 | 1988 | 1988 |
Appendages | Keel : fin without bulb | Keel : fin without bulb | Centerboard : pivoting centerboard in the keel |
Helm | Single tiller (helm wheel in option) | Single tiller (helm wheel in option) | Single tiller (helm wheel in option) |
Rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder | Single spade rudder |
Unsinkable | No | No | No |
Trailerable | No | No | No |
Former French navigation category | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Main dimensions | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Overall length | 32’ 7”9.93 m | 32’ 7”9.93 m | 32’ 7”9.93 m |
Hull length | 31’ 6”9.6 m | 31’ 6”9.6 m | 31’ 6”9.6 m |
Waterline length | 25’ 7”7.8 m | 25’ 7”7.8 m | 25’ 7”7.8 m |
Beam (width) | 10’ 7”3.22 m | 10’ 7”3.22 m | 10’ 7”3.22 m |
Draft | 5’ 11”1.8 m | 4’ 4”1.3 m | 6’ 4”1.92 m |
Draft when appendages up | 3’ 1”0.95 m | ||
Light displacement (MLC) | 8598 lb3900 kg | 8598 lb3900 kg | 9061 lb4110 kg |
Ballast weight | 2998 lb1360 kg | 2998 lb1360 kg | 3307 lb1500 kg |
Ballast type | Cast iron | Cast iron | Cast iron exterior ballast with steel centerboard |
French customs tonnage | 8.88 Tx | 8.88 Tx | 8.88 Tx |
Rig and sails | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Upwind sail area | 614 ft²57 m² | 614 ft²57 m² | 614 ft²57 m² |
Downwind sail area | 1009 ft²93.7 m² | 1009 ft²93.7 m² | 1009 ft²93.7 m² |
Mainsail area | 234 ft²21.7 m² | 234 ft²21.7 m² | 234 ft²21.7 m² |
Genoa area | 380 ft²35.3 m² | 380 ft²35.3 m² | 380 ft²35.3 m² |
Solent area | 297 ft²27.6 m² | 297 ft²27.6 m² | 297 ft²27.6 m² |
Jib area | 163 ft²15.1 m² | 163 ft²15.1 m² | 163 ft²15.1 m² |
Stormjib area | 70 ft²6.5 m² | 70 ft²6.5 m² | 70 ft²6.5 m² |
Symmetric spinnaker area | 775 ft²72 m² | 775 ft²72 m² | 775 ft²72 m² |
I iFore triangle height (from mast foot to fore stay top attachment) | 40’ 6”12.34 m | 40’ 6”12.34 m | 40’ 6”12.34 m |
J iFore triangle base (from mast foot to bottom of forestay) | 11’ 10”3.6 m | 11’ 10”3.6 m | 11’ 10”3.6 m |
P iMainsail hoist measurement (from tack to head) | 35’ 1”10.7 m | 35’ 1”10.7 m | 35’ 1”10.7 m |
E iMainsail foot measurement (from tack to clew) | 11’ 10”3.6 m | 11’ 10”3.6 m | 11’ 10”3.6 m |
Rigging type | Sloop Marconi masthead | Sloop Marconi masthead | Sloop Marconi masthead |
Mast configuration | Deck stepped mast | Deck stepped mast | Deck stepped mast |
Rotating spars | No | No | No |
Number of levels of spreaders | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Spreaders angle | 0 ° | 0 ° | 0 ° |
Spars construction | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars | Aluminum spars |
Standing rigging | 1x19 strand wire | 1x19 strand wire | 1x19 strand wire |
Performances | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
HN (French rating) iHN or "Handicap Nationale" is an empirical rating system used in France allowing various monohulls, of different sizes and designs, to race each other fairly. It is particularly suitable for cruiser and cruiser-racer. Therefore, by comparing these values, we can have an indication of the relative speed of 2 boats. | 18.0 | 18.0 | 18.0 |
Upwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. Upwind: under 18 the ratio indicates a cruise oriented sailboat with limited performances especially in light wind, while over 25 it indicates a fast sailboat. | 248 ft²/T23.01 m²/T | 248 ft²/T23.01 m²/T | 239 ft²/T22.22 m²/T |
Downwind sail area to displacement iThe ratio sail area to displacement is obtained by dividing the sail area by the boat's displaced volume to the power two-thirds.The ratio sail area to displacement can be used to compare the relative sail plan of different sailboats no matter what their size. | 407 ft²/T37.82 m²/T | 407 ft²/T37.82 m²/T | 393 ft²/T36.52 m²/T |
Displacement-length ratio (DLR) iThe Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) is a figure that points out the boat's weight compared to its waterline length. The DLR is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement in tons by the cube of one one-hundredth of the waterline length (in feet).The DLR can be used to compare the relative mass of different sailboats no matter what their length: a DLR less than 180 is indicative of a really light sailboat (race boat made for planning), while a DLR greater than 300 is indicative of a heavy cruising sailboat. | 233 | 233 | 245 |
Ballast ratio iThe Ballast ratio is an indicator of stability; it is obtained by dividing the boat's displacement by the mass of the ballast. Since the stability depends also of the hull shapes and the position of the center of gravity, only the boats with similar ballast arrangements and hull shapes should be compared.The higher the ballast ratio is, the greater is the stability. | 35 % | 35 % | 36 % |
Critical hull speed iAs a ship moves in the water, it creates standing waves that oppose its movement. This effect increases dramatically the resistance when the boat reaches a speed-length ratio (speed-length ratio is the ratio between the speed in knots and the square root of the waterline length in feet) of about 1.2 (corresponding to a Froude Number of 0.35) . This very sharp rise in resistance, between speed-length ratio of 1.2 to 1.5, is insurmountable for heavy sailboats and so becomes an apparent barrier. This leads to the concept of "hull speed".The hull speed is obtained by multiplying the square root of the waterline length (in feet) by 1.34. | 6.78 knots | 6.78 knots | 6.78 knots |
Auxiliary engine | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Engine(s) | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine | 1 inboard engine |
Engine(s) power (min./max.) | 9 HP / 18 HP | 9 HP / 18 HP | 9 HP / 18 HP |
Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel | Diesel |
Fuel tank capacity | 23.8 gal90 liters | 23.8 gal90 liters | 23.8 gal90 liters |
Accommodations and layout | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit | Closed aft cockpit |
Cabin(s) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Berth(s) | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Head(s) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Freshwater tank capacity | 50.2 gal190 liters | 50.2 gal190 liters | 50.2 gal190 liters |
Fridge/ice-box capacity | 23.8 gal90 liters | 23.8 gal90 liters | 23.8 gal90 liters |
Maximum headroom | 6’ 2”1.88 m | 6’ 2”1.88 m | 6’ 2”1.88 m |
Saloon | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Berth length | 6’ 2”1.9 m | 6’ 2”1.9 m | 6’ 2”1.9 m |
Fore cabin | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Berth length | 7’ 2”2.2 m | 7’ 2”2.2 m | 7’ 2”2.2 m |
Aft cabin | Elite 324 Deep draft | Elite 324 Shoal draft | Elite 324 Keel and centerboard |
Berth length | 6’ 2”1.9 m | 6’ 2”1.9 m | 6’ 2”1.9 m |
Berth width | 4’ 7”1.4 m | 4’ 7”1.4 m | 4’ 7”1.4 m |