1. Home
  2. Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Yacht Refit

1. What is a yacht ‘refit’?

The concept of a ‘refit’ includes repairing, fixing, restoring, renewing, mending, and renovating an old vessel. Refitting has become one of the most valued services provided by a boatyard. It offers a variety of services for a vessel of any size and kind starting with the construction itself and what is added to it, such as hardware, electric and mechanical systems, entertainment systems, etc.
Refits can be divided into several main subjects:

  •  Adding or replacing: for example replacing old deck equipment with new or refurbished equipment or replacing aged teak decks.
  •  Modifying: for example modifying a yacht for participating in and winning a regatta.
  •  Customizing: for example customizing a yacht for the owner's needs and desires. These customisations could be for cosmetic or functional purposes.
  •  Modernizing: for example modernizing an old yacht with modern styling, technologies and systems. Upgrading of electronics or sailing hardware to improve functionality or usability.
  •  Restoring: for example restoring an old wooden boat for preservation or recoating/repainting of surfaces to protect the construction materials used during the original build.

A ‘refit’ is usually more than one element of the above and encompasses multiple works aboard your boat. Large or small a refit is something that every yacht will likely to experience at least once in a lifetime. 

 

2. Where is the best place to refit my yachts?


Fox’s Marina & Boatyard have large sheds, dedicated workshops for painting, woodwork, metal fabrication, rigging and electronics and large amounts of specialist equipment for work aboard yachts. This makes Fox’s Boatyard an ideal location to undertake refit services of all types and sizes. 

If you feel a visit to Fox’s may restrict your cruising and due to our outstanding reputation for providing exceptional services we regularly travel to our clients to undertake work aboard their yachts. This can be in UK or foreign waters or in any location. Our engineers and technicians are often overseas installing new equipment or to renovate old yachts and their systems. It may prove more convenient and cost effective to work within our dedicated service yard at Ipswich but if necessary our team can travel to your boat with the equipment needed to do the work requested. Get in touch if you have an enquiry that you feel we may be able to help with.

 

Teak Decks

1. What is involved with the replacement of teak decks?

There is a great deal of misinformation within our industry with regard to teak decks and especially their method of installation and longevity. Modern materials and deck fabrication processes now allow for well equipped boat yards with specialist tools and skillsets to install teak decks that will last longer than the decks installed when the yacht was originally built. 

Fox’s Marina & Boatyard is recognised as a one of the most professional centres for the replacement of teak decks aboard all types of vessel. The Fox’s team has laid teak aboard traditionally built motor launches such as MV Havengore (built in 1954) and at the other end of the spectrum have re-decked modern production sailing yachts. Our experience of traditional wooden construction alongside modern production materials and technologies allows us to make the very best decisions with regard to the methods for repair and replacement of these fabulous looking decks. 

Modern processes and experience have allowed for a much better understanding of the material properties and installation methods required to provide long lasting timber decks. Decks are no longer secured with screws which provided the ideal path for moisture and the added complexity of timber plugs to hide the screws. The development of advanced epoxy adhesives provides durable bonds between teak deck planks and the deck of the yacht. These materials will outlast the life of the boat. 

Replacement teak decks are now made more efficiently and with a greater degree of accuracy by making deck panels of teak planks to templates taken directly from the deck of the boat. These large panels are made flat and with the epoxy and fibreglass backing which provides the perfect qualities to allow for deck panels to be bonded to the boat using modern and long-lasting adhesives. By making decks to the templates before gluing to the boat, the need for laying each plank individually is negated and decks can be made quickly in the workshop with the caulking between planks applied before bonding to the boat. The use of vacuum pressure to provide even compression of the panel during gluing process means the deck is laid flat and requires very little final finishing. 

The result is a teak deck that is laid without screws and timber plugs and is glued to the perfectly flat deck with materials that will last for many years to come. For further technical information about the process don’t hesitate to get in touch with our technical team email foxs@foxsmarina.com or call +44 (0)1473 689 111