Yacht Refit Guide: Why is it popular for Hong Kong boat owners to go to Zhuhai for “interior upgrades”?
A quality yacht with a fiberglass hull can last for decades, but the interior usually looks old and outdated in about 10 years. For many Hong Kong boat owners with 10-15 years of experience, instead of spending tens of millions of dollars on new boats, it is better to take advantage of the supply chain advantages of the Greater Bay Area to sail their ships to Zhuhai for a deep “cosmetic surgery” – that is, refit.
1. Zhuhai Refit’s core advantages: top-notch woodworking and cost-effective soft furnishings
Hong Kong’s labor costs are extremely high and there is a lack of a large market for timber and fabrics. In contrast, Zhuhai is backed by Zhongshan (the capital of mahogany furniture) and Dongguan (manufacturing base) and has an extremely mature process chain.
- Exquisite Carpentry: Zhuhai brings together a large number of experienced masters. Whether it’s replacing the entire ship’s teak decking (Teak Decking) or restoring the interior piano lacquered cabinets, they can achieve tight seams and symmetrical textures, and the level of craftsmanship is comparable to that of European originals, but the labor cost is only half that of Hong Kong.
- Soft Furnishings: Dislike outdated printed fabrics on board? Zhuhai has a massive material library. You can choose to rewrap the sofa in top-layer cowhide imported from Italy, or change it to the latest Sunbrella waterproof outdoor fabric to instantly modernize the interior.
2. Case Study: A gorgeous turn of a 15-year-old Sunseeker
We recently assisted a Hong Kong boat owner in refurbishing their 2008 Sunseeker. The boat is mechanically good, but the interior is full of “aged” dull wood colors and worn carpets.
- Before renovation: The carpet in the salon area smelled moldy, the white leather sofa was yellow and cracked, and the teak deck was worn to the point where the rubber edge was exposed.
- After refurbishment: The entire boat was replaced with light oak flooring (for a more spacious), the sofa was upgraded to modern gray Marine Grade leather, and re-upholstered in 10mm thick Burmese teak.
- Result: The owner exclaimed, “It feels like a new boat!” The cost of this renovation was only 60% of the Hong Kong quotation, and the completion time was reduced by 3 weeks.
3. Renovation Competition: Hong Kong vs Zhuhai
In order to give you a more intuitive understanding of the cost performance, we have compiled the comparative data between the two places:
| project | Hong Kong repair plant | Zhuhai VOY Cooperative Shipyard |
|---|---|---|
| Labor costs | Extremely high (expensive by man-hours). | Moderate (savings of about 40%-50%) |
| Material selection | Inventory is small, and ordering takes a long | timeBacked by the Pearl River Delta, a large number of spot plates/fabrics |
| Teak craftsmanship | The master is retiring and there is a shortage | of manpowerA team of mature craftsmen with fine handicrafts |
| construction period | The waiting list is long and often delayed | due to manpowerThere are enough manpower, and multiple types of work can be worked at the same time |
Does your yacht need a “new look”?
Take a look at our real case study of how to use the most reasonable budget to create a five-star interior texture.
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