{"id":447,"date":"2025-11-11T14:44:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=447"},"modified":"2025-11-11T14:44:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:44:48","slug":"how-to-futureproof-your-yacht-essential-refit-jobs-for-your-time-in-the-boatyard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=447","title":{"rendered":"How to futureproof your yacht: Essential refit jobs for your time in the boatyard"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you really \u2018futureproof\u2019 a yacht? Refit decisions made today could shape not just your next season, but the next decade, or more, on board says Will Bruton<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Time in a boatyard rarely goes exactly to plan. Investigate beyond where you usually look and you\u2019ll almost always uncover work that wasn\u2019t expected. The trick is to turn that disruption into long-term value \u2014 tackling hidden jobs head-on and using time out of the water as an investment.<\/p>\n

The old rule of thumb still applies: buy well but only buy once. With a clear game plan and good guidance futureproofing can be one of the smartest refit strategies there is.<\/p>\n

Old, but far from out<\/h2>\n

To futureproof thoroughly, you need a good sounding board of expertise, like David Gabriel, the refit manager for Rustler Yachts. The traditional brand is perhaps still most closely associated with its 36; a classic, long-keeled cruising yacht<\/a> that counts Princess Anne as a former owner.<\/p>\n

HRH now sails a much more modern Rustler 44, but refits of the 36 remain regular work for Gabriel. He explains what updating an older yacht for the long haul can look like.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 36 refit we\u2019ve got underway at the moment is designed to give her maybe a couple of decades before she needs another major overhaul. It\u2019s very much an investment for the owner setting her up for a long sailing future. She\u2019ll be a much more modern yacht in terms of technology than anyone could have imagined when she was launched.<\/p>\n

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Spending money below the waterline might not often be seen, but is one of the first steps to futureproofing your yacht. Photo: Rustler Yachts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Forward-looking sonar<\/a>, a hot water-based heating system instead of hot air, and completely new plumbing and electrics will make her feel new again,\u201d explains Gabriel.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly the original rig of the 1990s yacht was judged so good that it\u2019s been given a clean bill of health \u2014 not in need of replacement for up to a decade.<\/p>\n

So what makes an older design worth this level of commitment over a cheaper new production build? \u201cIt\u2019s a pattern we\u2019re seeing, including with other quality brands we refit,\u201d says Gabriel. \u201cIt lowers the price threshold to own a really solid yacht at a time when raw material costs are pushing new prices up for everyone. While it\u2019s not the same as commissioning a new Rustler, it\u2019s a great way to enjoy a genuinely high-quality yacht.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jobs easily missed<\/h2>\n

Nathan Bone Yachts has been refitting yachts in Plymouth for over 50 years, seeing trends come and go, but also how getting the fundamentals right can set a yacht up for a long life with only routine maintenance needed. \u201cGood futureproofing is about dealing with the jobs that are hard to reach, always with safety first in mind,\u201d Bone says.<\/p>\n

But which jobs to tackle, and in what order? \u201cIdeally, we shape the work by talking a lot to the owner, building a solid relationship before we even start, and making a plan that will serve them well for years.<\/p>\n

Like a classic car, even if the yacht isn\u2019t that old, you always find more once you open her up. We\u2019ll usually take a proper look at the keel<\/a>, for example. It might be tempting to focus on the looks first, but the question should always be \u2018What\u2019s caused it to look like that?\u2019 Often there\u2019s something deeper going on.<\/p>\n

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Coachroof refurbishment and repainting. Photo: Rustler Yachts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThe deck is always a big consideration. We restore teak wood<\/a> when we can and enjoy doing it, but we also replace decks completely with teak or modern alternatives. That\u2019s a major job \u2013 and one people often kid themselves about, thinking the deck has more life in it than it really does. If you can see the screws, it\u2019s usually past it.<\/p>\n

Good teak is wonderful, of course, but synthetic options can be excellent too \u2014 it depends on the yacht and the owner,\u201d Bone explains.<\/p>\n

So are things \u2018not like they used to be\u2019, or do improvements in terms of materials and fittings mean they last longer? \u201cIt\u2019s a mix. Acrylic hull paints have improved massively and last a long time. Coppercoat, if applied correctly, can last 12 years. PropSpeed is a fantastic product that improves economy and speed and just wasn\u2019t available before,\u201d says Bone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d also always recommend spending on quality deck gear \u2014 that\u2019s an area where the metal quality from some makers has definitely dropped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Article continues below\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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A second hand yacht that holds its value? Here\u2019s how to get one<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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Whisper it quietly, but yachts, and perhaps their owners too, quite often have an archetype. A well-worn Amel Super Maramu\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n