Knysna 440 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available; ex-charter examples are common. The 440 was originally offered with buyer-chosen cabin, hull, head and main saloon arrangements, and a choice such as galley-down or galley-up was offered to suit either charter requirements or private use. Some visited examples show two galleys, and the decor below reflects beachfront-living colors and style. Because the hulls are narrower than other boats in its class, interior feel is less voluminous than taller catamarans, though headroom was raised above the original St. Francis 6’2”.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market, circumnavigation capability, spinnaker, asymmetric spinnaker, electric winches, and freezer are commonly fitted. Often-seen equipment includes solar, lithium batteries, inverter, wind generator, dinghy davits, cockpit shower, radar, autopilot, and epirb. Less common, typically owner upgrades, are watermaker, gennaker, chartplotter, and short handed setup. The standard rig of big main and furling genoa may be supplemented by an optional screecher on a bowsprit, and an arch on the stern carries the mainsheet out of people range.

What to Inspect

The documented point of scrutiny is the 24” bridge deck clearance, which has drawn commentary that it is too low and will pound. Knysna added flanged surfaces to the bridge deck entry to break up solid waves when they hit the hull, and one owner reports over 4,000 days aboard without hard slapping and slamming from the lower bridge deck, but the geometry itself is unchanged. Confirm the aft engine placement and stern scoop are intact, as these were factory revisions moving the original center engines rearward for sea kindliness and mid-ship space. The hull is Airex foam core with hand laid vacuum-bagged Vinylester; check for core or layup issues, and verify the paired twenty-seven horsepower engines move the boat around seven knots under power.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Typical markets for the Knysna 440 are the United States, Greece, Australia, Portugal, and South Africa. For a buyer, the checklist is short and sourced from the boat’s known design traits: confirm bridge-deck clearance and flanged entry surfaces, verify aft engine and stern scoop configuration, validate layout matches charter or private intent, and confirm rig and optional screecher bowsprit fit your sailing plan.