By SuperyachtNews
07 Mar 2013

Pricing a 3-step refit

How the owner of a 30m Sunseeker refreshed his yacht with the clever use of management and interior design, and what each step cost.…

How the owner of a 30m Sunseeker refreshed his yacht with the clever use of management and interior design, and what each step cost.

In late 2008, the experienced owner of a 30m Sunseeker, Smooth Operator, decided he wanted to freshen his yacht’s interiors with a more contemporary design to match the yacht’s modern exterior. Based in Mallorca, he wanted to make it a cost-effective refit. The key was to upgrade the yacht without inflating the budget.

Here is how it was done (all prices include VAT):

Step 1

As first step in the winter 2009-10 a carpentry budget of €150,000 was set. Projects managers Z&P brought in the Hamburg based design office Schnaase Interior Design (SID) who developed 3 different options, one of which the owner selected, and upgrades on the salon’s entertainment system were also decided on. Z&P and SID tendered the interior package and surprisingly, a small Austrian interior builder specializing in yacht and ship interiors—rather than a Mallorca-based company—tendered the best offer that matched the customer’s budget.

The custom-built installation included: Oak flooring with silk carpet inlays (removed previous carpet and stone flooring down to GRP substructure), sofas and sofa chairs, coffee tables, sideboard in cherry, leather tops and trims on side boards and window boards, bar stools, Perspex bar glass holders and a new back wall, fabric wall panels, LED-illuminated bartop from artificial Alabaster, electric leather blinds—and various paint and varnishing jobs throughout the salon.

The owner also took delivery of a new SID-designed LED-illuminated exterior name signs at a cost of approximately €15,000.

After delivery, the owner decided the stateroom needed a similar treatment over the the next winter. He set a total budget for carpentry works of €200,000.

Step 2

The second step was done in winter 2010-11, using the same team of Z&P, SID and the Austrian interior outfitter. SID handed in extensive change suggestions which the owner approved. The works included: oak flooring with silk carpet inlays, new sofa, new leather venetian blinds, sideboards, watch and sunglass cabinet with leather-covered sliding door, complete re-arrangement of shower and bath area (removal of a Jacuzzi, fitting a new shower and washing area with Corian flooring and washing tables, new Corian washing table, flooring and walls in head, bathroom fittings, LED rope lights, carpet on stairs to gallery, fabric-covered footboard and headboard in the gallery, new mattresses, recessed, television, as well as various paint and varnishing jobs throughout the area.

At the same time, the yacht’s full entertainment systems were upgraded to iPod/iPad control and fitted with new equipment. The yacht was layed with new artificial exterior decks for €130,000. Two flybridge tables and the aft cockpit dining table were replaced with custom-built toughened safety glass (partly sandblasted) tables with stainless steel feet at a total cost including delivery and installation of €17,000.

Step 3

The third step was the most extensive one. The project was executed in winter season 2011-12 and focused on the lower deck guest cabins, the overheads and lighting (to lower energy consumption and general risk of fire) on the main deck.

On the main deck (salon and owner’s stateroom) the team installed a completely new ceiling design: ceiling panels covered with fabric, partly lacquered, new lighting spots, dining table light, rope lights (all dimmable LED), new light switches. The total cost including installation, cabeling and connection of lights was €115,000.

In the lower deck 2 twin guest cabins and VIP cabin: new oak flooring, including staircase, with inspection hatches for bilge areas were installed, new bed heads and footboards for beds, partly renewed lights, mattresses, rolling lathfloor and mattresses to make 2 single beds in the twin cabins into one king-size bed, new window panels, new venetian blinds, new Corian washtops in bathrooms and dayhead, bathroom fittings, makeup tables, flip-out televisions—all custom built—as well as various paint and varnishing jobs throughout the area. The total cost for interior works on the lower deck was €295,000.

In parallel to the interior works, the yacht received a complete new silver metallic exterior paint job, which including scaffolding cost €302,000, including VAT plus shipyard costs. Exterior lighting was switched over to LED, total costs including adaption of borings, cabelling and installation was approx. €27,000.

Planning, tendering, supervision, organization and coordination of various subcontractors and shipyard, cost control, regular surveying and checking for acceptance of all works was provided by Z&P with on-board assistance of the yacht’s crew. Complete design works, consultancy, revision of drawings, quality control and check for acceptance of the interior was provided by SID for all three steps.