37m Benetti motor yacht Kos completes six-month refit at Lusben

The 36.6-metre Benetti motor yacht Kos has completed an extensive refit at Lusben's site in Viareggio, Italy.

The works spanned six months and comprised a comprehensive refit programme from structural modifications to onboard systems and technical upgrades. Her exterior areas and interiors were also updated to improve operational efficiency, with all works carried out to enhance the onboard experience and extend her service life. 

Lusben's project management team, specialised technicians, skilled craftsmen and interior designer Laura Rossi, who led the interior redesign, were the team behind the programme. 

Kos was first launched in 2009, constructed in GRP to a design from Stefano Righini's Classic 120 series and outfitted with interiors by Francois Zuretti. She was sold in an in-house deal at Fraser at the end of last year, after less than five months on the market. Her refit began shortly after, in August 2025, seeking to preserve the yacht's original layout and character while enhancing functionality, comfort and spatial perception.

According to the yard, among the most demanding aspects of the project was the complete repainting of Kos' hull and superstructure. The final finish achieved gloss levels approaching 98 gloss (comparable to new-build standards), carried out within Lusben's fully protected environment, which is equipped with air management and dust-control systems. 

On the main deck, Lusben coordinated significant structural modifications, including installing a new full-height window in the main saloon and reconfiguring the staircase area between the main and upper decks - both of which required extensive engineering analysis for integration into the yacht's original structure.  

Simultaneously, the interior redesign introduced a reinterpretation of space on board Kos, with a focus on "greater fluidity, brightness and visual continuity". A feature that supports this vision is the addition of a new transparent balustrade around the staircase, allowing for natural light to flow between decks. Nearby, a backlit bar unit acts as the new focal point. 

The same philosophy was carried through to other interior reconfigurations, where opaque surfaces in the corridors were replaced with satin-finished glass panels to increase brightness, and new fabrics and materials were added throughout the accommodation. The layout and finishes in the galley were also updated to improve ergonomics and functionality while preserving character.

"Kos does not deny what she has been, nor does she try to become something else," said Laura Rossi. "The project was conceived to lighten, simplify and enhance the yacht's original identity, creating spaces that are brighter, more fluid and more natural to experience every day. Kos remains deeply a Benetti Classic, yet today she expresses a new vision of comfort and life on board."

In addition to redesigns, Lusben also carried out extensive technical and engineering upgrades, including the main engines, generators and key onboard systems. The work was aimed at improving reliability, safety and operational continuity.

General manager of Lusben, Ferdinando Pilli, commented on Kos' refit: "As Lusben celebrates its 70th anniversary, projects such as Kos confirm how refit has evolved into a strategic process for enhancing and preserving a yacht's value over time. Today, technical expertise, infrastructure and design vision must work together to meet the expectations of owners who are increasingly focused on quality, reliability and long-term value retention."

Paolo Simoncini, site director of Lusben Viareggio, added: "The Lusben site in Viareggio is a benchmark for complex refit projects on yachts and superyachts, thanks to the combination of technical expertise, production capabilities and extensive experience built over time."

He continued: "Kos is a tangible example of this approach: a project that required the coordination of structural works, technical upgrades and interior refit activities, all developed through an integrated process that enables us to support owners and industry professionals at every stage while ensuring quality, reliability and continuity throughout the project."

Earlier this year, Lusben relaunched the 48-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Belle Brise following a comprehensive refit.