Owner's Guide · Updated August 2026
Scope, yard selection, competing quotes, and oversight through delivery, run by a broker who spent 20+ years as a working captain. In the refit capital of the world.
The Short Answer
Industry estimates as of August 2026. The scope document decides the number: the same hull can carry a cosmetic refresh or a full rebuild, an order of magnitude apart.
| Scope | Typical Budget | Typical Timeline | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | From the tens of thousands | 1-3 months | Paint, brightwork, soft goods, electronics updates |
| Systems refit | ~10-20% of vessel value | 3-6 months | Engines and generators serviced or replaced, stabilization, HVAC, electrical |
| Major refit | ~20-40% of vessel value | 6-12+ months | Structural work, full interior, zero-hour machinery, classification |
| Buy + refit combo | 30-60% below comparable newer vessel | Purchase + yard period | Proven hull bought right, refitted to near-new under one manager |
Fort Lauderdale holds the largest concentration of refit yards, marine trades, and surveyors in the United States. Quotes compete here because the yards genuinely compete - if someone makes them. That is the job.
Most refits go wrong the same way: the scope grows in the yard, the quotes were never comparable, and nobody on the owner's side has run the systems being rebuilt. Greg Gaus spent more than two decades as a working captain before brokering yachts - overseeing yard periods and refits from the owner's side of the invoice. Double G manages refits the same way: fixed scope first, competing yards second, and someone on the dock who knows what the work is supposed to look like.
Scope and specification. A written scope before any yard sees the boat - what gets done, to what standard, and what explicitly does not. This single document is the difference between a budget and a blank check.
Yard selection and competing quotes. Fort Lauderdale's yards genuinely compete when quotes are built on the same scope. Greg runs the tender, normalizes the bids, and negotiates terms including milestone payments tied to progress.
Owner representation during the work. Regular yard visits, photo and progress reporting, change-order control, and budget tracking. Change orders are where refit budgets die; each one gets priced, challenged, and approved in writing before work continues.
Sign-off and sea trial. The boat is accepted the way a captain accepts a boat: systems run under load, punch list closed, documentation and warranties complete.
The strongest play in today's market is often the combination: buy a proven hull at pre-owned pricing, then refit it to near-new condition - typically 30-60% below the cost of a comparable newer vessel. Because Greg brokers the purchase and manages the refit, the refit scope is priced into the offer before you buy, not discovered after. On hulls like the Westport 112 and Westport 130, where early hulls trade millions below late ones, the math is compelling - see the live Westport inventory.
Per industry estimates, a well-documented refit typically adds 15-30% to a pre-owned yacht's value and, just as important, shortens days on market: survey-ready systems and complete yard records remove the buyer's biggest fears. On the right hull, Double G recommends and manages a pre-sale refit scoped for return, not for taste.
How much does a yacht refit cost? Most refit budgets run 10-40% of the yacht's value depending on scope, per industry estimates as of August 2026. The scope document decides the number.
How long does a refit take? Typically three to twelve months; major rebuilds longer. Fixed scope and milestone payments keep yards on schedule.
Refit or buy newer? A refit can cost 30-60% less than a comparable newer vessel, but some boats are worth more sold as-is. Greg prices both paths and tells you which one wins.
Does a refit add resale value? Typically 15-30% on a documented refit, plus faster sales - complete yard records are what buyers and surveyors want to see.
Why a captain and not a project firm? The best refit managers in this harbor are former captains. A captain has run the systems offshore and paid for yard mistakes in downtime - that experience shows up in scope reviews and sign-off.
Budget and value figures on this page are industry estimates current as of August 2026 and vary with vessel, yard, and scope. Every Double G refit engagement starts with a written scope and real quotes for your boat.
Planning a Yard Period?
Send the boat and the wish list. Greg will tell you what it should cost, which yards should bid, and whether the smarter move is a refit or a different boat.
Contact Greg