Planning a yacht refit? Here’s how to prepare—and what the process really invovles.

Whether you’re considering a full transformation or a few targeted upgrades, refitting your yacht is a significant undertaking. A well-planned refit can extend the life of your vessel, modernize its systems, and tailor it more closely to your current needs.

At West Bay Shipyards, we’ve helped countless owners bring new life to their yachts—so we understand that the process can feel daunting if you’ve never been through it before. This guide is designed to walk you through the typical phases of a refit, from first conversation to sea trials, with tips to help you make informed decisions along the way.

A successful refit starts with a solid plan—and that begins with understanding what your yacht needs, and what you envision.

The first step in any refit is a consultation between you and the shipyard team. This isn’t just about listing off what you’d like changed—it’s a chance to align your goals with what’s feasible based on your vessel’s current condition, systems, and structure.

At this stage, you can expect a few key activities: 

• Needs Analysis: Identifying the parts of the vessel that require attention—interior, exterior, systems, or a mix of all three.
• Feasibility Discussion: Gauging what’s achievable within your timeline and budget. This might include trade-offs or phased approaches.
• Preliminary Inspection: A surface-level walkthrough to catch any obvious issues and begin forming a realistic scope of work.

West Bay’s role in this phase is to guide you through those decisions with transparency. We bring decades of hands-on experience in both construction and service, so we know where common pitfalls lie—and how to avoid surprises later.

By the end of this step, you should walk away with:

• A clearer idea of what’s possible
• An early budget and timeline
• A plan for deeper inspections and scope development

We believe the best results come from collaborative planning—and that starts here.

Once the goals are defined, detailed planning begins to bring your vision to life.

With the initial assessment complete, we move into planning and design—a phase where ideas take shape and logistics are nailed down. This step ensures the project is not only achievable but grounded in practicality.

Key activities include:

• Design Development: Collaborating with designers or engineers to translate your vision into plans that balance form, function, and feasibility.
• Material Selection: Choosing materials that match your desired aesthetic while meeting marine-grade standards for durability and safety.
• Timeline & Budget Finalization: Aligning the scope with your budget and setting expectations around project phases, including buffers for potential changes.

This deeper dive ensures all potential issues are surfaced before construction begins. We’ll provide a report with findings and recommendations, allowing you to make informed decisions about necessary versus optional work.

With a confirmed plan in place, we start detailing:

• Layout adjustments
• System upgrades
• Paint and finishes

The planning phase is a dialogue—our team works closely with you to balance creativity, functionality, and safety.

This phase may include any or all of the following:

Like any renovation, the deconstruction phase may reveal hidden damage or complications. Our team inspects continually throughout the process and keeps you informed if scope changes are needed.

Our goal is to be proactive, not reactive—avoiding costly surprises later by addressing them early.

The transformation can now being.

This phase involves working in parallel to upgrade all targeted areas. Here’s a look at what each of those involve.

Each element is completed to marine standards, with attention to longevity and usability, while maintaining your desired vision.

No detail is too small when it comes to final testing.

Once the physical work is done, each area and system undergoes testing and quality control to ensure safety, performance and excellence.

Sea Trials

The vessel is brought out on a controlled outing to test and assess performance. Much like a test drive in a car, it’s essential to ensure all systems are functioning—and to check comfort, handling, and any needed refinements. Sea trials may occur several times throughout the refit process to ensure everything is running smoothly during and after installation.

After successful testing and quality assurance, your yacht is prepared for pickup or delivery with a top-to-bottom detailed cleaning. We’ll then conduct a full walkthrough with you to explain all upgrades and provide any documentation, care instructions, and maintenance timelines.

At West Bay Shipyards we value long-term relationships. Our support continues well beyond the handover, so you can feel confident knowing help is always a phone call away.

Choosing a shipyard is as important as choosing what to upgrade. With over five decades of hands-on experience, our team has the tools, knowledge, and facility to take on full-scale refits from start to finish.

Our West Coast facility handles everything from hull work and interior craftsmanship to high-end technology integrations.

Yacht owners choose West Bay for:

• Proven experience across new builds and refits
• In-house trades and craftsmen
• Transparent and communicative project management
• Dedication to safety, quality, and longevity

We don’t just refit yachts. We help owners protect their investments, personalize their onboard experience, and navigate the journey with confidence.

Located in Delta, British Columbia. Proudly serving  yacht owners throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

*Note: This blog post is a general overview and may not cover all aspects