From dramatic hull extensions to cutting-edge engineering upgrades, 2025 is shaping up as a landmark year for superyacht refits. BOAT unpacks some of the largest, ambitious rebuilds, restorations and transformations that have already been completed and redelivered, as well as those still underway and set to continue into 2026 and beyond.
Discover how designers and shipyards are redefining style, technology and functionality across the globe’s elite fleet...
Moonstone
The 79.2-metre Delta Marine superyacht Moonstone (ex-Albatross) has been redelivered from Damen Yachting's Vlissingen site following a transformative 26-month refit with Amels Refit. A seven-metre hull extension enabled Harrison Eidsgaard to reconfigure her layout, adding a full beach club and wellness centre, a winter garden, an expansive pool and enlarged exterior lounge areas. Her François Zuretti interiors from 2016 were also comprehensively refreshed with British studio Harrison Eidsgaard overseeing both the exterior and interior transformations. Major engineering upgrades – including reworked naval architecture and lifted exhaust systems – ensured stability despite the increased volume. Now measuring 2,149GT and tailored to her owners’ private itinerary, Moonstone emerges as a significantly evolved Delta Marine flagship that still retains her original DNA.
Legend
The 77.4-metre Legend is currently being reimagined by Aqua Expeditions as Aqua Lares, a luxury cruise ship offering book-by-the-cabin voyages through the Seychelles and East Africa. Originally a Soviet icebreaker built by IHC Verschure and later rebuilt by Icon Yachts in 2016, she is now undergoing a major interior refit led by Hot Lab and Birgit Galli Zugaro to accommodate up to 30 guests across six decks. Warm, pared-back interiors pair with extensive wellness amenities, including two Jacuzzis, a sauna and spa, while refreshed social spaces span a panoramic sundeck, cinema, gym and multiple dining areas. Outfitted with five tenders and a suite of adventure gear, Aqua Lares blends expedition capability with high-end hospitality ahead of her 2026 launch. She is also still available for private charter.
Snellius
A former Royal Dutch Navy build is set to begin her conversion into a charter yacht. The 71.8-metre Snellius is at Giacalone Shipyard, an Italian builder that specialises in merchant and military vessels, where she is preparing for a “complete overhaul” that will include structural work, a new interior design and updated electrical and automation systems. Furthermore, a hybrid solution will allow Snellius to cruise silently.
Starfire
German yard Abeking & Rasmussen has unveiled the results of a year-long transformation of the 70.2-metre Lürssen superyacht Starfire (ex Saint Nicolas). The refit introduced a three-metre swim platform extension (courtesy of American firm Murray & Associates), performance upgrades and an entirely reworked sundeck that now houses a gym, sauna, cold-plunge pool and massage zone. Pascoli International reshaped her exterior lines, while Patrick Knowles Design refreshed the interiors with brighter, nature-inspired finishes and new floor-to-ceiling windows on the main and upper decks. With generous 2.3-metre headroom, an elevator serving all levels and a counter-current pool with bar, Starfire emerges with a strikingly modern profile and enhanced charter appeal.
Alfa
The 70-metre Benetti superyacht Alfa (ex Alkhor) hit the water following a comprehensive refit at Lusben’s site in Livorno, Italy. A relatively recent delivery, Alfa won a Neptune award at the 2021 World Superyacht Awards in the "Displacement Motor Yacht Between 1,000GT and 1,599GT" category for her “handsome” exterior and “distinct deck spaces, containing every amenity”. Her refit brought her some more charter-friendly touches, including the addition of a wine cellar and four custom bars.
Project Master
Work is well underway on 70-metre Project Master, with all major steel and aluminium works now completed at Icon Yachts’ facilities in Harlingen, the Netherlands. The conversion project was originally Ocean Ness, an offshore rescue and support ship, now slated to become one of the “world’s most capable explorer yachts”. Various parts of the original platform were demolished and rebuilt (increasing her volume by 1,000GT) with naval architecture and exterior design helmed by Espen Øino. Meanwhile, the interiors were completely stripped to allow for an overhaul by British studio Winch Design.
Lady Esther
The 65-metre classic yacht Lady Esther has been officially redelivered following a three-year rebuild with Damen Maaskant. Works were extensive: Lady Esther gained a 10-metre extension, a reconfigured interior layout, glass bulwarks around two aft decks and a new spa pool. Recent imagery shows a marked difference to Lady Esther’s original 1979 exterior, with refit designer Vripack opting for a rigid, masculine design typical of explorer yachts.
Read More/65m classic yacht Lady Esther redelivered following three-year rebuildMagna Grecia
The 63.8-metre Elsflether Werft AG superyacht Magna Grecia had a 10-month refit with Greek-based yard Seara Maritime (which worked closely with the captain and crew). Works have built on the award-winning, 24-month rebuild in 2019 that resulted in a 5.3-metre extension, brand-new Francesco Paszkowski interiors and a commendation at the 2020 World Superyacht Awards. Now she boasts a refurbished stern, technological upgrades to the cinema, new contemporary art, repainted ceilings and reupholstered furniture. Magna Grecia is already on the market with Seara Maritime and SuperYachtsMonaco, asking €21,000,000.
Seawolf
The 58.8-metre explorer Seawolf has completed a two-year refit at Pendennis and arrived in Antigua, her first port post-redelivery. Originally a 1957 oceangoing tug, she was converted into a superyacht in the early 2000s and has now undergone extensive engineering, electrical and exterior works, including a full repaint and a new rescue crane. British studio Design Unlimited refreshed her interiors and deck spaces, adding a new owner’s suite, redesigned flybridge and upgraded crew areas, while remaining faithful to her 1950s DNA. With an ice-strengthened hull and accommodations for 12 guests, Seawolf continues her legacy as a capable, classic explorer ready for global cruising.
Solace
Fresh from a 10-month refit at Pendennis, the now 57-metre Feadship Solace is preparing for an ambitious three-year circumnavigation with EYOS Expeditions. Works included a full repaint, refreshed guest and owner areas and a new supernumerary cabin, while a major stern extension created space for an upgraded beach club complete with integrated sauna. Delivered in 2005 and previously known as Twizzle, Solace retains the award-winning RWD interiors and generous outdoor living spaces that earned her early acclaim. Her overhaul ensures she is fully equipped – aesthetically and operationally – for the global, narrative-driven “Solace Odyssey” ahead.
Bijin
The 49.9-metre motor yacht Bijin has completed a nine-month refresh at Monaco Marine’s La Seyne-sur-Mer facilities. She was Sibelle in her previous life, delivered as the first hull in Heesen’s 50-metre fast-cruising series. Her new name (a Japanese term meaning “beautiful woman”) is reflective of her rejuvenating works, according to Milanese studio Hot Lab. Living spaces are calming and Japandi-inspired, with the colour palette shifted towards lighter tones, softer shades of brown and “gentle oriental touches” woven throughout. Bijin will be used both privately and as a yacht for charter, with her upcoming first season with Ocean Independence already fully booked.
Read More/First look inside 50m Heesen superyacht Bijin following Japandi-style refitAwatea
The 45-metre Royal Hakvoort motor yacht Awatea has settled into Balk Shipyard for an extended programme of technical and cosmetic upgrades. The refit will see a full repaint of her hull and superstructure, as well as the installation of new AM and PCMS systems to bring her onboard technology up to modern standards. Delivered in 2008 as the first Hakvoort designed by Cor D. Rover, Awatea is remembered for her forward-thinking integrated systems and “sailing yacht meets New England charm” interiors. Balk now aims to preserve that semi-classical spirit while subtly modernising a yacht considered emblematic of a particularly innovative era in Dutch design.
Read More/45m Royal Hakvoort yacht Awatea arrives at Balk Shipyard for extended refitRenata
The 40.9-metre Cerri Cantieri Navali motor yacht Renata, previously known as Kanga, is now chartering with Touch Adriatic following a keel-up restoration in Croatia. The former Kanga was completely rebuilt following a devastating fire in Dubrovnik, mere months after her delivery by Cerri Cantieri Navali. A definitive highlight on this new build is the sundeck with its front-facing spa pool, bar and barbecue, though the beach club sauna is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Acania
The 38.4-metre classic motor yacht Acania is deep into a full-scale restoration at Delta Marine, where her 1929 Pusey pedigree is being painstakingly revived. With the hull complete and the superstructure nearing full assembly, the rebuild aims to reinstate the yacht’s original Art Deco character after decades of alterations. Historic drawings, 3D scans and carefully catalogued components are guiding the process, while modern comforts – from fin stabilisation to a shore power converter – are being sensitively integrated. Even the deck furniture is crafted from her original teak, underscoring a rebuild that prioritises heritage as much as contemporary usability.
Palm Beach XI
The legendary 30.5-metre Supermaxi Wild Oats XI is undergoing a major rebuild at Palm Beach Motor Yachts, where founder Mark Richards is leading a transformation intended to propel the record-breaker back to the front of the Sydney Hobart fleet. Now renamed Palm Beach XI, the yacht will receive an all-new appendage package – including a deeper keel fin and bulb, advanced daggerboards and radical C-Foils – marking the most significant upgrade in her 20-year career. Partnering with Juan K. Naval Architects, McConaghy Boats and North Sails, the project is designed to “redefine what’s possible” for an ageing Supermaxi ahead of her return to the racecourse.
Read More/Palm Beach Motor Yachts announces rebuild of iconic regatta winner Wild Oats XILuis Lima
The 45-metre Alpha Marine yacht Luis Lima (formerly the 38.1-metre Proton) has emerged from years of disuse to undergo a radical rebuild in Izmir. A seven-metre extension has enabled the creation of a vast 90-square-metre beach club with fold-down terraces, a Jacuzzi and integrated dining and lounge areas. Baran Akalın Yacht Design has reimagined the yacht inside and out with bold Pop-Art styling, adding features rarely seen on a yacht of this size: dual saloons, a walk-through wine cellar, a full wellness centre and a four-person elevator. With multiple pools, expansive entertainment spaces and a private garden terrace for the owner, Luis Lima is being transformed into a high-impact, highly contemporary yacht ahead of her planned 2026 relaunch.
Haya
Brazilian yard Inace Superyachts has acquired three offshore supply vessels for conversion into explorer yachts. Three clients have been secured, with the first – a 37-metre named Haya – fully refitted and recently delivered. Details on the projects are scarce, though the yard explained the major challenge was “preserving the supply vessel DNA” (such as strength and safety) while introducing a more “seductive” exterior design, penned by Fernando Almeida.
Opus II
KRM Yacht is refitting a 1990s Heesen known as Opus II, now renamed Red Phoenix. The 36-metre is undergoing 18 months of works, which aim to enhance her with modern technology while still preserving her historical charm. Led by Turkish-based studio Red Yacht Design, upgrades include a new, sharp grey exterior, two extra cabins, a sundeck spa pool and a transom extension that can accommodate a three-metre swimming pool.
Slow Poke
The 25.5-metre Kuipers explorer Slow Poke has undergone an $8,000,000 refit with Dutch studio Vripack that stripped the yacht back to bare metal and rebuilt her for a new, adventure-focused owner. A 2.5-metre hull extension introduced a redesigned stern with hydraulic swim steps, an elevated platform and a heated outdoor shower, while a CFD-optimised bulbous bow boosts efficiency and features underwater lighting and a glass viewing window linked to cabin screens. Vripack and Redd Kaihoi refreshed the yacht with high-gloss interiors in bold blues and greens, paired with restored cherry wood. With upgraded decks, refined exterior paintwork and thoughtful, residential-style detailing, Slow Poke now delivers big-boat amenities within a compact explorer platform.