Refit crew: The best yards for a superyacht reboot

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1 - Orams Marine Orams Marine

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

A superyacht refit can be a great way to give your old yacht a new lease of life. We’ve picked out some of the finest yards from around the world with the skills and expertise needed to pull off such a complicated job, starting with Orams Marine... Founded: 1947 About: The yard specialises in painting and fabrication. Previous notable projects include two of the world’s biggest sailing yachts, the 90 metre Royal Huisman schooner Athena, 91 metre classic yacht Nahlin and the 48.5 metre Vitters ketch Thalia.

Founded: 1947

About: The yard specialises in painting and fabrication. Previous notable projects include two of the world’s biggest sailing yachts, the 90 metre Royal Huisman schooner Athena, 91 metre classic yacht Nahlin and the 48.5 metre Vitters ketch Thalia.

2 - Thunderbolt Marine Thunderbolt Marine

Location: Savannah, Georgia

Founded: 1965 About: Thunderbolt is a full-service, 25-acre facility on the Wilmington River with capacity for sailing and motor yachts up to 60 metres and a Syncrolift with 1,000-tonne hauling capacity.

Founded: 1965

About: Thunderbolt is a full-service, 25-acre facility on the Wilmington River with capacity for sailing and motor yachts up to 60 metres and a Syncrolift with 1,000-tonne hauling capacity.

3 - Rivergate Marina Rivergate Marina

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Founded: 2006 About: Rivergate prides itself on its wide range of on-site contractors including naval architects, manufacturers, painters and interior designers. Projects range from 20 to 80 metres, including motor and sailing yachts in steel, aluminium and GRP. The two travelifts on site can lift up to 75 tonnes and 300 tonnes respectively and the yard enjoys access to a 600-tonne travelift and a 2500-tonne slipway. One of the most notable Rivergate refits was a 73 metre SilverYachts motor yacht that was given a complete repaint, custom galley replacement, hull plate replacement, complete carpet replacement and the installation of a beach club, all carried out to Lloyd’s class standards in a tight timeframe of just 73 days.

Founded: 2006

About: Rivergate prides itself on its wide range of on-site contractors including naval architects, manufacturers, painters and interior designers. Projects range from 20 to 80 metres, including motor and sailing yachts in steel, aluminium and GRP.

The two travelifts on site can lift up to 75 tonnes and 300 tonnes respectively and the yard enjoys access to a 600-tonne travelift and a 2500-tonne slipway. One of the most notable Rivergate refits was a 73 metre SilverYachts motor yacht that was given a complete repaint, custom galley replacement, hull plate replacement, complete carpet replacement and the installation of a beach club, all carried out to Lloyd’s class standards in a tight timeframe of just 73 days.

4 - Newport Shipyard Newport Shipyard

Location: Newport, Rhode Island

Founded: 1834 About: The yard is equipped with hauling capacity up to 450 tonnes. Up to 300 people work there in season (including contractors) and plans are on the board for expansion. A Gunboat 66, built in South Africa, is currently undergoing its ten-year refit at the yard.

Founded: 1834

About: The yard is equipped with hauling capacity up to 450 tonnes. Up to 300 people work there in season (including contractors) and plans are on the board for expansion. A Gunboat 66, built in South Africa, is currently undergoing its ten-year refit at the yard.

5 - Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard

Location: Gold Coast, Australia

Founded: 2000 About: Australia’s largest refit and repair yard, Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard boasts a diverse offering, with more than 70 marine businesses on-site, employing over 600 marine contractors and covering all aspects of marine refit, maintenance and construction. The hardstanding measures more than 50,000 square metres, a 250-tonne and 50-tonne travelift are based on-site, while the eight purpose-built superyacht refit sheds compliment the dedicated superyacht basin. Metal and GRP fabrication, sailing and motor yacht refinishing are just a few of the yard’s specialities. Sahana is one of the most notable refit projects completed at GCCM. This 37 metre was converted from a private luxury yacht into a vessel aimed squarely at the Australian charter market in 2015.

Founded: 2000

About: Australia’s largest refit and repair yard, Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard boasts a diverse offering, with more than 70 marine businesses on-site, employing over 600 marine contractors and covering all aspects of marine refit, maintenance and construction. The hardstanding measures more than 50,000 square metres, a 250-tonne and 50-tonne travelift are based on-site, while the eight purpose-built superyacht refit sheds compliment the dedicated superyacht basin. Metal and GRP fabrication, sailing and motor yacht refinishing are just a few of the yard’s specialities.

Sahana is one of the most notable refit projects completed at GCCM. This 37 metre was converted from a private luxury yacht into a vessel aimed squarely at the Australian charter market in 2015.

6 - Bradford Marine Bradford Marine

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Freeport, Bahamas

Founded: 1966 About: Bradford works mostly on motor yachts but has the deep water access suitable for sailing superyachts in Freeport, Bahamas, where its facility has a 1,000-tonne hauling capacity, and can dock yachts up to 122 metres. The Fort Lauderdale yard boasts 3,350 linear metres of covered in-water slips and multiple shops for everything from engine to propeller repair.

Founded: 1966

About: Bradford works mostly on motor yachts but has the deep water access suitable for sailing superyachts in Freeport, Bahamas, where its facility has a 1,000-tonne hauling capacity, and can dock yachts up to 122 metres. The Fort Lauderdale yard boasts 3,350 linear metres of covered in-water slips and multiple shops for everything from engine to propeller repair.

7 - Marine Group Boat Works Marine Group Boat Works

Location: San Diego and National City, California and Los Cabos, Mexico

Founded: 1978 About: From paint to centreboard service, mast stepping/unstepping, hull extensions and custom fabrications, the yard has done it all. It now has a propeller shop to handle specialised calibration works, and National City has become the world’s first solar powered superyacht facility.

Founded: 1978

About: From paint to centreboard service, mast stepping/unstepping, hull extensions and custom fabrications, the yard has done it all. It now has a propeller shop to handle specialised calibration works, and National City has become the world’s first solar powered superyacht facility.

8 - RMK Merrill Stevens RMK Merrill Stevens

Location: Miami, Florida

Founded: 1885 About: The new ownership has invested in a new shiplift with a 2,700GT hauling capacity for yachts up to 70 metres and 2,800 square metres of new workshops and offices for project managers, adding to the 22,300 square metre facility and its 137 metre bulkhead.

Founded: 1885

About: The new ownership has invested in a new shiplift with a 2,700GT hauling capacity for yachts up to 70 metres and 2,800 square metres of new workshops and offices for project managers, adding to the 22,300 square metre facility and its 137 metre bulkhead.

9 - Ocean Marine Yacht Center Ocean Marine Yacht Center

Location: Portsmouth, Virginia

Founded: 2001 About: The centre is well equipped for work on large motor yachts with 19 acres, a 122-slip marina and a 1,130-tonne, NAVSEA certified Syncrolift capable of hauling yachts up to 71 metres.

Founded: 2001

About: The centre is well equipped for work on large motor yachts with 19 acres, a 122-slip marina and a 1,130-tonne, NAVSEA certified Syncrolift capable of hauling yachts up to 71 metres.

10 - Front Street Shipyard Front Street Shipyard

Location: Belfast, Maine

Founded: 2011 About: Facilities on six acres, with deep water frontage, can accommodate motor or sailing yachts inside up to 48 metres and up to 61 metres on the docks, with a maximum weight of 440 tonnes.

Founded: 2011

About: Facilities on six acres, with deep water frontage, can accommodate motor or sailing yachts inside up to 48 metres and up to 61 metres on the docks, with a maximum weight of 440 tonnes.

11 - Palumbo Palumbo

Ancona and Naples, Italy; Marseilles, France; Malta; Tenerife

Founded: 1967 About: A pick-and-mix of refit services is offered at all five shipyards in the Palumbo Group. Lifting capacity in Ancona is 2,800 tonnes, while there are 700-tonne crane lifts at Marseille and Naples and dry docking facilities for up to 160 metre yachts in Malta.

Founded: 1967

About: A pick-and-mix of refit services is offered at all five shipyards in the Palumbo Group. Lifting capacity in Ancona is 2,800 tonnes, while there are 700-tonne crane lifts at Marseille and Naples and dry docking facilities for up to 160 metre yachts in Malta.

12 - Lauderdale Marine Center Lauderdale Marine Center

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US

Founded: 1996 About: This sprawling 26,000 square metre facility can take yachts up to 60 metres and has haul-out capacity of up to 485 tonnes.

Founded: 1996

About: This sprawling 26,000 square metre facility can take yachts up to 60 metres and has haul-out capacity of up to 485 tonnes.

13 - Astilleros De Mallorca Astilleros De Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Founded: 1942 About: Astilleros has the facilities to haul vessels of up to 1,700 tonnes and 100 metres, and provide berthing for up to 110 metre yachts. It recently opened a second office and workshops at the STP site. The 52.8 metre motor yacht Passion had “spectacular” changes made to her in a 2003 refit. These included moving the tender storage from the top deck to the lower deck and replacing the lifting crane with a sliding davit.

Founded: 1942

About: Astilleros has the facilities to haul vessels of up to 1,700 tonnes and 100 metres, and provide berthing for up to 110 metre yachts. It recently opened a second office and workshops at the STP site. The 52.8 metre motor yacht Passion had “spectacular” changes made to her in a 2003 refit. These included moving the tender storage from the top deck to the lower deck and replacing the lifting crane with a sliding davit.

14 - Pendennis Pendennis

Falmouth, UK (with a service centre in Palma and yacht support offices in Auckland)

Founded: 1988 About: Pendennis has a 400-strong workforce, a 150 metre dry dock, 640 tonne hoist, and can accommodate sailing and motor yachts between 24 metres and 100 metres. Previous highlights include the 85.6 metre Aquila, which became the largest superyacht to be refitted in the UK when she was relaunched by Pendennis in 2016. In one year, the yard dramatically modified 800 square metres of space, including adding an 80 square metre owner’s terrace and a cinema.

Founded: 1988

About:Pendennis has a 400-strong workforce, a 150 metre dry dock, 640 tonne hoist, and can accommodate sailing and motor yachts between 24 metres and 100 metres.

Previous highlights include the 85.6 metre Aquila, which became the largest superyacht to be refitted in the UK when she was relaunched by Pendennis in 2016. In one year, the yard dramatically modified 800 square metres of space, including adding an 80 square metre owner’s terrace and a cinema.

15 - Compositeworks Compositeworks

La Ciotat and La Rochelle, France

Founded: 1998 About: Recently aquired by MB92, Compositeworks' specialities include the maintenance, refit and rebuild of sail and motor yachts from 30 metres to 200 metres. Last year the company opened a new technical office for engineering and naval architectural expertise. In 2015 the company finished a major refit on the 67 metre Feadship Falcon Lair (ex-New Horizon L). The work included a total remodelling of the superstructure and a 3 metre transom extension, to a design by UK architects Olesinski.

Founded: 1998

About:Recently aquired by MB92, Compositeworks' specialities include the maintenance, refit and rebuild of sail and motor yachts from 30 metres to 200 metres. Last year the company opened a new technical office for engineering and naval architectural expertise.

In 2015 the company finished a major refit on the 67 metre Feadship Falcon Lair (ex-New Horizon L). The work included a total remodelling of the superstructure and a 3 metre transom extension, to a design by UK architects Olesinski.

16 - Lusben Lusben

Viareggio and Livorno, Italy

Founded: 1956 About: The Viareggio facility takes yachts from 30 metres to 50 metres, with a travel lift and paint shed, while the Livorno one takes 55 metre to 120 metre yachts with a dry dock, 2,500 tonne ship lift and 180 metre float-in dock.

Founded: 1956

About: The Viareggio facility takes yachts from 30 metres to 50 metres, with a travel lift and paint shed, while the Livorno one takes 55 metre to 120 metre yachts with a dry dock, 2,500 tonne ship lift and 180 metre float-in dock.

17 - STP Palma STP Palma

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Founded: 2006 About: STP doesn’t directly engage in refit work but operates an open shipyard in which 450 different companies are registered to work. There are five travel lifts, the biggest of which has a 700 tonne capacity, with a new 900-tonne lift arriving in 2018. In 2015 STP finished an unusual refit: 53 metre Mirage had spent seven months there during each of the three previous winters, allowing the owner to enjoy the boat in the summers. The work included re-insulation of the engine room and installation of new engines and a new bow thruster, along with external paint jobs.

Founded: 2006

About: STP doesn’t directly engage in refit work but operates an open shipyard in which 450 different companies are registered to work. There are five travel lifts, the biggest of which has a 700 tonne capacity, with a new 900-tonne lift arriving in 2018.

In 2015 STP finished an unusual refit: 53 metre Mirage had spent seven months there during each of the three previous winters, allowing the owner to enjoy the boat in the summers. The work included re-insulation of the engine room and installation of new engines and a new bow thruster, along with external paint jobs.

18 - Monaco Marine Monaco Marine

Location: Monaco; Beaulieu-sur-Mer, St Laurent-du-Var, Antibes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, La Ciotat and (from 2018) La Seyne-sur-Mer (all in France)

Founded: 1995 About: The yard has a marina in Monaco and a range of refit services at other venues, a 2,000-tonne ship lift for vessels up to 80 metres at La Ciotat, and travel lifts between 40 and 500 tonnes at other locations. The 72 metre Feadship Predator first came to Monaco Marine in 2010 and has been back every year since. The main work carried out has been the redesign of the interior spaces to allow the addition of two extra guest cabins, and the application of her distinctive paint scheme.

Founded: 1995

About: The yard has a marina in Monaco and a range of refit services at other venues, a 2,000-tonne ship lift for vessels up to 80 metres at La Ciotat, and travel lifts between 40 and 500 tonnes at other locations.

The 72 metre Feadship Predator first came to Monaco Marine in 2010 and has been back every year since. The main work carried out has been the redesign of the interior spaces to allow the addition of two extra guest cabins, and the application of her distinctive paint scheme.

19 - Amico & Co Amico & Co

Genoa, Italy

Founded: 1991 About: The company has four dry dock slots, catering to yachts of up to 171 metres, including a state-of-the-art and purpose-built 102 metre covered graving dock and a new 90 metre dry-dock shed. In 2016 Amico & Co converted an 85 metre passenger vessel into 91.5 metre superyacht Queen Miri (pictured). It refurbished 80 per cent of the interior, added a floodable tender garage in the stern extension that converts into a heated seawater swimming pool, replaced the main engines and added three new generators.

Founded: 1991

About: The company has four dry dock slots, catering to yachts of up to 171 metres, including a state-of-the-art and purpose-built 102 metre covered graving dock and a new 90 metre dry-dock shed.

In 2016 Amico & Co converted an 85 metre passenger vessel into 91.5 metre superyacht Queen Miri (pictured). It refurbished 80 per cent of the interior, added a floodable tender garage in the stern extension that converts into a heated seawater swimming pool, replaced the main engines and added three new generators.

20 - Nuovi Cantieri Apuania Nuovi Cantieri Apuania

Tuscany, Italy

Founded: 1942 About: Seriously big boats are welcome — the yard has a 200 metre dry dock and a floating dock for yachts up to 90 metres. The specialised refit team has a stainless steel workshop and an in-house upholstery department at its disposal, and there is a “crew village”, which includes a bar, spa and gym.

Founded: 1942

About: Seriously big boats are welcome — the yard has a 200 metre dry dock and a floating dock for yachts up to 90 metres. The specialised refit team has a stainless steel workshop and an in-house upholstery department at its disposal, and there is a “crew village”, which includes a bar, spa and gym.

21 - Cantiere Rossini Cantiere Rossini

Pesaro, Italy

Founded: 2015 About: They do everything from minor repairs and routine maintenance to complete refits for motor yachts between 30 metres and 55 metres.

Founded: 2015

About: They do everything from minor repairs and routine maintenance to complete refits for motor yachts between 30 metres and 55 metres.

22 - MB92 MB92

Barcelona, Spain

Founded: 1992 About: Each year MB92 carries out refit work to more than 100 superyachts between 35 metres and 200 metres. The 65 metre Lürssen Polar Star (pictured) had a major refit at the yard in recent years. The interior was totally re-imagined to meet the new owner’s desire to make it more in tune with the environment. The aft platform was extended by 2.2 metres and the superyacht spa pool on the bridge deck was changed from a hexagonal shape to a square, with more space for sunpads either side.

Founded: 1992

About: Each year MB92 carries out refit work to more than 100 superyachts between 35 metres and 200 metres. The 65 metre Lürssen Polar Star (pictured) had a major refit at the yard in recent years. The interior was totally re-imagined to meet the new owner’s desire to make it more in tune with the environment. The aft platform was extended by 2.2 metres and the superyacht spa pool on the bridge deck was changed from a hexagonal shape to a square, with more space for sunpads either side.

23 - Nautech Nautech

La Ciotat, Marseille, Villefranche and Toulon, (all in France); Cuba; Martinique

Founded: 1996 About: The yard refits and repairs motor and sailing yachts from 25 metres to 140 metres. In a recent project Nautech converted a 35 metre French customs vessel into a yacht. Workers modified the structure, replaced tank steelwork, added new power management and a bow thruster, significantly altered the interior and exterior styling and layout, and finished off with a full paint job.

Founded: 1996

About: The yard refits and repairs motor and sailing yachts from 25 metres to 140 metres. In a recent project Nautech converted a 35 metre French customs vessel into a yacht. Workers modified the structure, replaced tank steelwork, added new power management and a bow thruster, significantly altered the interior and exterior styling and layout, and finished off with a full paint job.

24 - Rybovich Rybovich

Palm Beach, USA

Founded: 1919 About: “We’ve extended outside of our basin, 228.6 metre deep draught dockage to make it even easier for large, transient yachts of up to 91.4 metres to visit us with a 5.2 metre draught,” says François van Well, VP of business development. The biggest change is the yard’s expansion. Its Rybovich North facility has five times the land, a 150-tonne travel lift and has been dredged to a depth of five metres.

Founded: 1919

About: “We’ve extended outside of our basin, 228.6 metre deep draught dockage to make it even easier for large, transient yachts of up to 91.4 metres to visit us with a 5.2 metre draught,” says François van Well, VP of business development. The biggest change is the yard’s expansion. Its Rybovich North facility has five times the land, a 150-tonne travel lift and has been dredged to a depth of five metres.

25 - Melita Marine Group Melita Marine Group

Gzira, Malta

Founded: 1989 About: Melita Marine Group started out small, offering basic yachting services. Within a decade it had expanded, setting up Melita Power Diesel for engine repairs and Melita Yacht Painters with a team of eight professional painters specialising in Awlgrip applications. Yachts measuring up to 140 metres can be looked after, with work ranging from regular maintenance to engine overhauls or big interior revamps.

Founded: 1989

About: Melita Marine Group started out small, offering basic yachting services. Within a decade it had expanded, setting up Melita Power Diesel for engine repairs and Melita Yacht Painters with a team of eight professional painters specialising in Awlgrip applications. Yachts measuring up to 140 metres can be looked after, with work ranging from regular maintenance to engine overhauls or big interior revamps.

Refit crew: The best yards for a superyacht reboot

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Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard

Location: Gold Coast, Australia

Founded: 2000

Sahana is one of the most notable refit projects completed at GCCM. This 37 metre was converted from a private luxury yacht into a vessel aimed squarely at the Australian charter market in 2015.