Design and Construction
The underbody shape on the 500SE is deliberately drawn so that waves are pushed downward and the hull wakes meet well aft of the boat, which lessens slamming in a seaway. A solid wall across the aft end of the cockpit shields the transom from boarding waves, and the gently sloped stern steps extend the hulls to add waterline while doubling as a boarding platform for the dinghy. Foam-cored fiberglass hulls and deck are paired with iron ballast, and the 3-foot-11-inch draft keeps her manageable in shallow anchorages. The 500SE is ICW-capable with 62 feet 4 inches of vertical clearance, a useful attribute for owners who want inshore routing during heavy weather.
Rig and Handling
All halyards and reef lines run aft along the deck to the helm, and the main and jib sheets run along the cabintop so the boat can be worked single-handed from the cabintop. A Harken Battcar system lets the main drop easily, and the full-roach mainsail—chosen over a square-top—flakes neatly onto the boom while still delivering power. For heavy air, both the genoa and full-batten main reef; for light air, a screecher on a bowsprit furler is ready to deploy. In just six knots of apparent wind the 500SE sails at 4.5 knots. The twin 57 hp Yanmar diesels with saildrives are run through single-lever throttles, and the engines are sized to handle the vessel's windage for close-quarters maneuvering.
Helm and Deck
The starboard helm is a single bulkhead station protected by a hard-top bimini with an overhead window for sail visibility, and the cushioned bench seats two with a secure wrap that cannot be launched over the side even in a heavy seaway. From that perch all four corners of the boat are visible. Wide decks make movement safe in a seaway, and the teak catwalk with hidden chain guides gives the foredeck crew a secure footing while anchoring. The anchor deploys from the bow so the boat naturally blows off the chain, and a windlass with both up and down controls plus a chain counter is standard.
Accommodations
The owner's hull lies to port, with a custom double berth aft, bench seating, and a midship office. Forward, a watertight bulkhead can house a dive compressor, with a large standing shower just aft and a washing machine accessed through that bulkhead. The starboard hull carries two guest cabins, each with its own head. The U-shaped galley secures the cook underway and provides ample refrigeration and storage. A dedicated machinery room puts the generator, watermaker, and similar gear within easy reach for routine service, and sea strainers sit under the cabin sole arranged so any spill runs harmlessly into the bilge.
Equipment and Systems
Standard liveaboard equipment includes a 6 kW generator, a 1260 Ah house bank with two deep-cycle engine-start batteries, a 3000 W inverter and 2500 W charger with battery monitoring, a watermaker, and reverse-cycle air conditioning with heat. The dinghy uses custom lifting tackle from the boom and stows on chocks rather than swinging in davits when offshore. A swim platform sits between the aft bench and davits, with a barbeque on the starboard side and an aft-facing filleting table to port.
The Verdict
The Knysna 500SE is a thoughtfully laid-out cruising catamaran that places real emphasis on secure, single-handed operation and protected seamanship. Her sail plan, helm visibility, and underbody design work together to make passage-making comfortable rather than athletic, and the owner-oriented hull layout with a dedicated machinery space reflects a boat built for extended liveaboard use.
Pros
- Single-handed sail control from the helm via run-back halyards, sheets, and reef lines
- Underbody shape that reduces slamming and a transom wall that blocks boarding seas
- Secure helm seating and all-around visibility from a hard-top protected station
- Owner hull with office and watertight forward bulkhead; two en-suite guest cabins opposite
- Strong standard equipment: generator, large house bank, watermaker, air conditioning
Cons
- Twin 57 hp saildrive engines may invite greater drivetrain service attention than shaft drives
- Full standard inventory means many systems to maintain for the lone owner
