Every boat refit is different. No matter how big or how small, there are always many things to consider. First, there is the budget to consider — how much is the owner prepared to invest in a boat he just purchased or a boat that he has owned for a while but that needs updating? Second, how big of a project is the owner planning, whether it be just electronics, interior update, pumps, hoses, services on mains and gens or something more major like an engine rebuild, new paint and new teak? Third, how much time do you have? Many large-scale projects can shut a program down for six months or more.
After going through a few total refits as well as a few new builds over the years, my main recommendation would be to update any questionable items or systems you can while you have easy access to them. An obvious scenario would be to refinish the entire engine room and change all hoses and plumbing while doing an engine rebuild. When having the entire boat repainted you might as well remove all exterior hardware and have it re-chromed or polished. It’s also best to go ahead and strip all of the brightwork to bare wood and start refinishing before the boat goes into paint so that you have good tape lines to start with.
Another example would be to replace fuel and water tanks, lazarette plumbing and the exhaust system while replacing a cockpit deck on an older boat. On one occasion, I was helping with the delivery of a large sportfisher that had recently been through a refit. They had rebuilt the engines, repainted the entire boat, replaced the interior and put in a new teak deck. On the way to Florida we noticed a small, steady flow of water coming from the lazarette into the engine room that we eventually discovered was coming from a cracked muffler. We ended up getting a temporary patch on the leak and finished the trip. However, the new deck had to be cut out to access and replace the mufflers once we arrived in Florida. This has always stuck in my mind as a good example of why you should always try to think proactively when going through a refit, or at all times for that matter.
Ultimately, there comes a point where an owner has to make the tough decision on whether it is worth doing a total refit and put even more money into the boat he owns or purchase a new boat and start the whole process over again. There is no “right” answer to this, and there are always pros and cons with either choice. Some owners will trade their boats for a new one every few years, while on the other hand, some owners will keep the same boat in the family for generations.
