Buying a used Knysna: a semi-custom catamaran, not a standardized one
A used Knysna carries the same variability that defines the yard's new-build process: buyers of the Knysna 440 could choose among several cabin, hull, head, and main saloon layouts rather than one fixed floor plan, and that same semi-custom approach has carried through the rest of the range. For a used buyer, that means confirming exactly which configuration a given hull was built with, rather than assuming it matches a "typical" example of the model. It's also worth knowing that founder Kevin Fouché has said the yard operates with little in the way of a local supply chain, so materials and components are largely imported into Knysna to build each boat — a detail worth keeping in mind for anyone weighing long-term parts or service support once a boat has left South Africa.
Which era to target
The 440 is where the brand's design story begins: its hull tooling started as the Angelo Lavranos-designed St. Francis 44, which Knysna reworked in-house before launching it under its own name. The 480 followed, with its first hull completed in 2009; the builder has since revised that model's deck plan, so it's worth confirming with a seller whether a specific listing predates or postdates that change rather than assuming from the model name alone. The 500 and 500 SE came next — ask which trim a listing actually is, since the SE added hull-shape and access refinements over the standard 500 — and the 550, in 550SL and 550SE variants, rounds out the range as the newest addition.
Navigating the lineup
Given how much has changed hull to hull and model to model at a small, semi-custom yard, a buyer is best served by settling on an era and model first — 440, 480, 500-series, or 550 — before comparing individual configurations against the full model directory on this page.
Where they're listed
Knysna listings appear across 10 countries. United States has the most listings with 20 (31.7%), followed by South Africa and Greece.
Country view
63 listings · 10 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $799,000 | 20 | 3 | 31.7% |
| South Africa | $1,135,085 | 15 | 2 | 23.8% |
| Greece | $690,000 | 11 | 5 | 17.5% |
| Portugal | $290,624 | 5 | 5 | 7.9% |
| Australia | $644,379 | 4 | 1 | 6.3% |
| Fiji | $1,925,000 | 2 | 0 | 3.2% |
| Italy | $745,000 | 2 | 0 | 3.2% |
| Montenegro | $1,108,225 | 2 | 0 | 3.2% |
| Spain | $1,624,933 | 1 | 0 | 1.6% |
| Georgia | $799,000 | 1 | 0 | 1.6% |
All Knysna models
2 models grouped by length overall. Open any model to see recent asking prices and active listings.