‘Luxury’ is the word that sums up these South African built Knysna catamarans. For anyone looking at Lagoons and other cats in this price range, this Knysna 500 SE (Special Edition) is well worth looking at. It will be clear from even the smallest amount of research into the Knysna company that these yachts are a level above the usual.
With an impressive owners suite, taking up the entirety of one of the hulls, this catamaran would make a very stylish live aboard, or an idyllic escape for the summer months.
A rare opportunity to acquire a highly equipped 2019 Knysna 500 SE, commissioned in the summer of that year and maintained exclusively as a private cruising yacht.
Designed for comfortable, fast and self-sufficient bluewater cruising, this three-cabin Owner’s Version combines the well-regarded Knysna 500 SE platform with a comprehensive cruising specification, including lithium energy storage, extensive solar capacity, a watermaker, air conditioning, a generator and an excellent sail inventory.
The yacht has been privately owned from new and has never been chartered, with the owner personally aboard whenever she has moved — a distinctive ownership history compared with many charter-oriented catamarans currently on the market. She is currently based in Motril, southern Spain, and is presented in very good to excellent condition, with a small number of cosmetic and maintenance items in hand ahead of completion.
Highlights Listed below but included in Full Specs:
- 2019 Knysna 500 SE — Owner’s Version, three cabins
- Commissioned summer 2019 — one private owner from new, never chartered
- UK flagged; currently based in Motril, Spain
- Twin Yanmar 4JH57 engines (57hp each), approx. 2,600 hours each
- Saildrive seals replaced (2024)
- Fischer Panda generator — only 162 hours
- Schenker watermaker — approx. 400 hours
- Air conditioning
- Mastervolt electrical system with 4 lithium house batteries
- Extensive fixed and walk-on solar installation
- Garmin navigation suite including 7416xsv chartplotter and Radom Radar
- NPL NorLam mainsail and furling genoa, Ullman screecher, Oxley parasail
- 3.80m Gemini tender with Yamaha 25 HP engine
- 40kg Rocna anchor with 100 m chain
- Coppercoat antifouling; standing rigging inspected (2026)
Broker’s Remarks
This Knysna 500 SE stands out for her ownership history: a single private owner since new, no charter use, and an owner who has been aboard for every passage. That combination is unusual in today’s catamaran market and gives real confidence to a buyer looking for a genuinely private cruising yacht rather than a former charter boat.
The three-cabin Owner’s Version layout is well suited to a couple or small family taking on extended cruising, and the bespoke interior redesign gives the accommodation a contemporary, sophisticated feel beyond the standard specification. Below decks, the substantial lithium and solar installation, generator, watermaker and air conditioning give her genuine self-sufficiency for Mediterranean cruising and further afield, while the low generator and watermaker hours reflect an owner who has looked after his equipment.
A small number of cosmetic and maintenance items are currently in hand at a planned haul-out in Motril, giving the next owner the benefit of a freshly attended-to yacht without having to organise the work themselves. Early inspection is recommended.
