Knysna 500 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin layouts predominate among used examples, reflecting the design's natural orientation toward a cruising couple who want privacy and a dedicated owner's suite while still accommodating guests. In that configuration the port hull is typically given entirely to the owner, with a full-beam aft cabin, a generous head with separate shower, and a vanity or office space amidships — a thoughtful suite that feels more like a boutique hotel cabin than a typical catamaran berth. The starboard hull in this version houses two guest staterooms, each with its own en-suite head, making it a genuinely functional charter or liveaboard layout. Four-cabin charter configurations are occasionally available on the used market, trading some of the owner's bespoke space for an additional revenue-generating cabin, and they suit buyers whose plans involve crewed charters or larger families. Both layouts share the same expansive saloon, protected single-helm station to starboard, and U-shaped galley.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples come to market very well equipped as a rule. Solar panels and lithium battery banks are commonly fitted, a reflection of how seriously most Knysna 500 owners approached energy independence. Watermakers are essentially standard across used inventory, as is air conditioning — the latter delivered by reverse-cycle systems that handle both tropical and temperate sailing. Electric winches, a chartplotter, AIS, radar, and a quality autopilot are widely present. Dinghy davits and a dedicated inflatable with outboard are typically in place, and life rafts are often seen aboard. Washing machines and chest freezers turn up regularly, both welcome finds for long-distance liveaboards.

On the sail plan, the factory screecher on a bowsprit furler is a common sight, and many owners have added a gennaker or code zero for reaching performance in the lighter conditions typical of the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean cruising grounds. A short-handed rigging setup — additional clutches, line organisation at the helm, bags for sheets — is a frequent owner addition that reflects how the boat is actually sailed by couples. Teak decks, cockpit showers, and furling main conversions appear occasionally as owner upgrades and are worth confirming in any specification sheet. Hot water systems beyond the basic diesel-heated standard occasionally vary in configuration; clarify the setup during inspection.

What to Inspect

The Knysna 500's build quality is consistently noted as a genuine strength, but semi-custom construction means the engineering of individual systems can differ hull to hull, and a thorough survey remains essential.

Pay particular attention to the bridgedeck and hull-to-deck joint, as these are structurally critical areas on any performance catamaran. The hull form and undersides have been sculpted to minimise bridgedeck slamming, which reviewers note does not appear to surface as a recurring owner complaint — but any evidence of impact damage, cracking, or osmotic blistering in the bridgedeck and forward sections warrants professional assessment. Engine access is configurable on the 500 — the access to the engine space can be customised for either under the berth or through a deck hatch aft — so confirming which arrangement is fitted and that servicing has been practical for the previous owner matters when reviewing maintenance records.

The twin Yanmar saildrives deserve close attention: inspect the saildrive boots for age-related cracking and confirm replacement history, as saildrive seals are a known service interval item across the catamaran world. The electrical package is substantial — a large house battery bank, generator, inverter-charger, watermaker, and air conditioning all live aboard — so a full electrical audit by a marine electrician is advisable, particularly on older examples where lithium conversions may have been retrofitted by varying levels of expertise. Confirm that the sea strainers are easily accessible under the cabin sole and installed so that any seawater spills harmlessly into the bilge, as designed — deviations from this can create hidden bilge water issues.

Rigging inspection should cover the Harken Battcar system on the main as well as all standing rigging, given that many of these boats have accumulated blue-water miles. The mainsail, genoa, and screecher should be assessed for UV degradation and wear at the clews and reefing points.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Knysna 500 is found most commonly in the United States and South Africa, with a meaningful presence across Mediterranean Europe — particularly Greece and Italy — as well as Australia. It circulates through specialist bluewater catamaran brokerages rather than general yacht listing platforms, so engaging a broker with multihull experience is a practical first step. Because production volumes are low, patience is warranted; chasing the right example matters more than moving quickly on whatever is immediately available.

For buyers who want a high-finish, genuinely offshore-capable cruising catamaran that rewards the investment of a careful survey, the Knysna 500 is a strong candidate. The semi-custom pedigree means no two boats are identical — confirm every system individually rather than assuming a standard specification.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Obtain full build documentation and original specification sheet to understand what was standard versus owner-added
• Commission a survey from a marine surveyor experienced with large performance catamarans
• Inspect saildrive boots and confirm replacement history
• Conduct a full electrical audit, especially on boats with retrofitted lithium systems
• Verify watermaker service history and membrane condition
• Assess all sails including screecher and any downwind inventory for UV wear
• Confirm engine access configuration and review full service records for both Yanmars
• Check bridgedeck and hull-to-deck joints for impact damage or cracking
• Verify life raft certification date
• Sea trial in meaningful wind to assess helm feel and sail handling at the cockpit