The yacht world is filled with vessels of all shapes and sizes. Owning a yacht is your ticket to the ultimate freedom, but it comes at the cost of keeping up to date with maintenance and modernization. Yacht refit management is a skill everyone will have to master at some point. Rather than opting for new yachts for sale, knowing how to give your pride and joy a cosmetic facelift or a total overhaul will keep your vessel sailing the ocean blue for years to come.
Today, we’ll go through some essential tips everyone should know about when embarking upon a refit.
How to Master Yacht Refit Management
Every refit is different, so having the right team around you and knowledge of the various challenges is crucial to achieving a seamless project. Here are our top tips for dealing with your refit.
Select the Right Yacht Maintenance Brand
Like you’d spend hours poring over details about yacht manufacturers when looking up new yachts for sale, do the same with the company that’s going to be handling the busywork of carrying out your refit.
Always work with experienced professionals who understand the complexities of modern vessels. Don’t just opt for the company offering the lowest price, as this will almost certainly mean corner-cutting at some point.
Take the time to look up reviews or ask around your home marina for some recommendations.
Budget Out Your Refit
The biggest threat to any refit is going over budget. Sadly, this is all too common as unexpected problems crop up, resulting in issues like:
- Installation problems
- Parts replacements
- Additional labor costs
Avoid nasty surprises by going through your budget line by line and leaving some wiggle room in case you encounter any unexpected hurdles along the way. The best maintenance companies will support you in fleshing out your budget.
Think Fire Safety
Fire safety might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it should. Tasks like welding can increase the risk of a fire breaking out, and the last thing you want is for your refit to turn into an insurance claim.
Before launching your refit, double-check that your vessel’s firefighting equipment is functioning as it should. You might also want to brief your crew or even oversee the work yourself just to add an extra set of eyes.
Map Out Your Refit Schedule
Aside from going over budget, the other risk is that your refit takes longer than needed because you didn’t keep up with your usual refit schedule. Refit schedules may seem straightforward enough, but the water can quickly become muddied when vessels start changing hands.
Your exact schedule will depend on the local regulations where you’re registered, but here’s a breakdown of some of the most common tasks to add to your schedule:
- Antifouling paint every two years.
- Hull repainting every three years.
- Superstructure repainting every five years.
If you’ve recently bought a new yacht, this is also when you might want to consider a refit so that you can add some custom touches, such as interior renovations or a fresh coat of paint on the hull.
Create a Comprehensive To-Do List
Newbies to the yacht refit process often get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks they have to tackle. The best way to handle your refit is to create a detailed list of the non-negotiables. Some examples of the most common refit jobs include:
- Rig inspections
- Electrical upgrades
- Hydraulics
- Carpentry
- Interior painting
- Exterior painting
- Fiberglass repair
- Air conditioning
- Mechanical work
Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the tasks that might form part of your refit. Use it as a starting point so that you can focus on one-time jobs. Coordinate this list with your management team so everyone is on the same page.
Get Your Crew in Order
Even if you’re outsourcing the refit job to a shipyard or yacht maintenance company, it’s still important to include key crew members in the process. Naturally, this depends on the type of vessel you’re working with. If you’re a one-man operation, you can skip this step, but larger vessels may need personnel like engineers, stewards, and the skipper.
Your crew can coordinate with the refit crew and provide extra oversight to ensure proper safety standards.
Select the Best Shipyard
You’ve likely got a range of yards to choose from where the work will actually be carried out. Ensure you’ve inspected the facility, as this is where the magic happens. Prioritize security, equipment, experience, and reputation.
Go through the same process as you would working with a maintenance company. Ask around your boat friends and do some research online to figure out what your options are.
Conclusion: Choose the Right Partner for Your Refit
Managing a refit alone can be daunting for a newcomer. Instead of trying to manage it yourself and risking going over budget and smashing your deadline, outsource the issue to the professionals. Get in touch with a proper refit company to ensure your boat is back on the water as soon as possible.
Yacht Refit Management FAQs
How often does a yacht need a refit?
Total refits for yachts should be done every five to ten years. However, certain tasks, such as repainting the hull, need to be done every three to five years. The best way to handle this problem is through regular inspections and addressing problems at the earliest opportunity.
What does it mean when a yacht has been refitted?
Refitting encompasses so many of the tasks that keep an old vessel afloat. It includes repairs, restorations, renewals, and renovations. It’s these jobs that consume most of a shipyard’s time and effort.
How much does it cost to refit a yacht?
The cost of refitting your yacht depends on the size of the yacht, the materials used, and how much of a refit your boat actually needs. Generally, a boat of up to 24m may cost around £10,000 for a basic refit, whereas extensive refurbishment might cost up to £100,000.