Bente 24 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The Bente 24's interior is essentially a single-cabin layout built around two generously wide saloon berths that double as settees, plus a large double berth forward that provides sleeping for two at a useful length. The arrangement is an open plan — there is no separate quarter cabin or aft stateroom to speak of — and the "furniture" is deliberately sculptural rather than fitted: hull-side curves form the backrests, and the table is removable so it can migrate from below deck to the cockpit. A canvas-screened heads compartment sits to starboard.

What varies on the used market is primarily the galley configuration. Early boats sometimes shipped with the signature retractable pull-out galley module, which stows beneath the cockpit seat and deploys either below or at deck level, cooking in the open air under the protection of the dodger. Later examples may have more conventionally fitted-out versions of this space. Buyers should check which galley arrangement is aboard and whether the pull-out mechanism operates smoothly, as the novelty of the system means it has seen more variation than most production cruisers of similar vintage.

Keel configuration is the other meaningful variable: the standard shallow draught option suits trailerable and lake sailing, while the deep-draught fin keel turns the boat into a noticeably sharper performer offshore. A small number of boats also appear with the swing-keel variant. Know which is fitted before travelling to view, as it affects not only performance but also where the boat can reasonably berth.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The fixed GRP dodger with its large moulded plexiglass windscreen is the boat's signature feature and comes as standard equipment, so buyers will almost universally find it in place. The dodger's condition — particularly the plexiglass — is worth close examination, as scratching and crazing are common after several seasons in UV-heavy conditions and replacement panels are not cheap.

A gennaker or asymmetric spinnaker is commonly fitted, reflecting the boat's design intent as a downwind performer: the flat, broad stern and the high sail-area-to-displacement ratio make a reaching chute genuinely transformative rather than merely aspirational. Chartplotters appear commonly on used examples, often mounted at or near the single coachroof winch station where all lines are led aft.

Lithium battery banks are frequently encountered, particularly on boats fitted with the Torqeedo electric outboard option or on examples where owners have upgraded from a conventional petrol auxiliary. The electric drive package, using a retractable pod unit, was offered from the beginning as a factory option, and it remains a popular configuration on the used market given the boat's low power demands. Buyers considering an electric-motored example should confirm battery health and cycle count, as lithium packs have finite service lives that may not be visible from the outside. An autopilot appears on a meaningful proportion of used boats, a logical addition for short-handed cruising.

Teak deck panels or Permateek-style synthetic teak overlays appear occasionally as owner upgrades, though the boat's original deck finish is functional without them. A spinnaker pole or whisker pole occasionally appears in deck inventory as an added-on item.

What to Inspect

Because the Bente 24 is a fully-cored construction throughout — hull and deck — osmotic damage is less of a traditional concern than with solid GRP laminates, but core integrity is the thing to check instead. Any deck hardware through-bolting, particularly around the coachroof winch, genoa tracks, and traveller, should be examined for signs of water ingress into the core. A damp survey using a moisture meter over the deck and topsides is worthwhile, paying particular attention to the areas around the mast step (the mast is deck-stepped) and chainplates.

The plexiglass windscreen on the dodger is a known wear item. Yachting Monthly noted that the hard dog house is one of the Bente's most defining and practically useful features, but the polycarbonate or acrylic panel degrades with UV exposure and physical contact over time — assess visibility and structural integrity of the surround carefully.

The retractable galley rail system and any pull-out mechanism beneath the cockpit seat should be exercised through its full range of motion. These are bespoke mechanical solutions without obvious off-the-shelf replacement parts, so seized or damaged slides may require fabrication work.

For boats fitted with the Torqeedo electric propulsion package, the original Torqeedo system used a lithium ion battery that was significantly lighter than equivalent lead-acid capacity, but battery degradation in electric auxiliaries can reduce effective range substantially even when the motor itself is healthy. Request charging logs or a range demonstration if at all possible.

The rudder is transom-hung, which makes it accessible and easy to inspect. Check the pintles and gudgeons for wear and ensure the tiller action is smooth without slop. The single coachroof winch arrangement means the running rigging all passes through a relatively concentrated area — check clutch and jammers for wear.

As Yachting Monthly observed, the boat carries an RCD Category C rating for coastal sailing in up to Force 6, which is the appropriate context for this design — buyers with offshore ambitions should calibrate expectations accordingly.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Bente 24's core market is Central Europe: Germany and the Netherlands account for the largest concentrations of used examples, with additional boats appearing in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The boat's trailer-ability — the hull rotates on a road trailer to fit within standard European width limits — means examples do travel, and it is not unusual to find boats having changed country between original purchase and current listing. Continental brokerage platforms are the most productive hunting ground, though UK brokerages carry them with some regularity.

Because total production numbers are relatively modest for a boat with more than a decade on the market, the used market is active without being oversupplied, and condition varies considerably between boats that have been maintained with the original minimalist spirit and those that have been modified away from it.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm keel variant (shallow, deep, or swing) and check keel-hull interface for cracks or weeping
• Moisture-meter the deck and coachroof, especially around the mast step and all through-deck hardware
• Inspect the plexiglass dodger windscreen for crazing, scratches, and surround integrity
• Exercise the retractable galley system through its full range
• For electric-motor boats: verify battery state of health and request a motoring range test
• Check running rigging clutches and jammers at the coachroof winch station
• Inspect transom-hung rudder pintles and gudgeons for play and corrosion
• Confirm Category C rating suits your intended sailing area
• Verify sails included — gennaker/asymmetric, main, and headsail condition
• Review any structural repairs or warranty work completed under previous ownership