Not long ago, a Northern Marine owner brought his boat back to the builder’s shipyard in Anacortes, Washington, for a light refresh before listing it for sale. Bringing the boat to the original builder sparked word-of-mouth among Northern Marine owners and prompted the company to put dedicated refit services on its radar.
“That started word-of-mouth among Northern Marine owners,” says Linn Jennings, director of manufacturing operations for Seattle Yachts International, which has owned Northern Marine since 2019. “We looked at it and said, yes, this is good work for us. We have the space, we have the crew—let’s go for it.”
In October the company formalized those plans by launching the Northern Marine Refit Division. The shipyard, founded in 1995, now offers full-service boat refits for all brands, with capabilities that include structural repairs and modifications, systems upgrades and replacements, interior refurbishments, exterior refinishing, performance enhancements, custom stainless work and repowering. “This is in addition to building new boats,” Jennings explains. “We are going to build new boats, we are going to service the boats that are out there, and we’re going to take care of all kinds of boats in that 50- to 80-foot range.”
The announcement comes as the recreational marine industry faces economic headwinds—rising interest rates and inflation have softened new-boat sales—so many owners are choosing to invest in the boats they already own. Refit work lets owners extend a boat’s life, modernize systems and refresh interiors without waiting for a new build.
“When sales slow down, especially in the bigger models, historically people hang onto their boats,” Jennings says. “But if you hang onto your boat, you have to do work on it. So for us, it’s a way to be strategic looking down the road. This is a way to keep the guys moving forward on something that they can get really excited about.”
For owner-operators, a refit often makes more sense than buying new. If a boat is well known to its owner but showing cosmetic wear, has minor mechanical needs or could benefit from updated systems, a targeted refit can achieve most of the advantages of a new boat in a shorter timeframe.
“One of the arguments for a refit is that if you have a boat you’ve been running for five years or so, and you’re comfortable with that boat but the décor’s a little tired, maybe there’s a little dock rash on it, the mechanicals need some work, it’s a sure thing to pull it in and do a refit on it as opposed to waiting 18 to 24 months for a new boat,” Jennings says. “We tweak this or we tweak that, and the new boat is your dream, and it’ll be 90 or 95 percent of what you wanted. You can refit your boat and achieve most of that.”
The yard handles a wide range of refit tasks in-house, although there are a few specialty items—upholstery and carpeting, for example—that it outsources to trusted local partners. Located in Anacortes, the shipyard has access to a network of marine specialists that can supply whatever owners need to complete larger projects.
While Northern Marine’s refit bays accommodate boats up to 80 feet, the team says it is open to projects on larger vessels when logistics and equipment permit. “The bays that we use for the refits, we can put an 80-footer inside,” Jennings notes. “Now, that does not stop us from doing work on larger boats, and we’re exploring some joint opportunities on a boat that won’t fit the local lift equipment. So we’re open to doing work on larger boats, but 80 feet is about the size that we can move into the building.”
One clear trend the yard is seeing is owners upgrading communications and connectivity systems—many customers want Starlink installations to add high-speed internet and improved connectivity while on the water. Jennings points out that Starlink is a practical, relatively affordable option for boat owners who want reliable data service for navigation, communication and entertainment.
“Starlink is probably the most economical way to have communication abilities on your boat,” he says. “It’s not that expensive. It’s available to everybody. It’s not difficult to install. You can link your phone to it, your electronics—it’s amazing what it can do.”
These modern systems can be installed on current refits or included in new builds. For example, Northern Marine has a partially completed 64 Raised Pilothouse at the yard: the hull and fiberglass superstructure are finished and the engines are in place, and Jennings says delivery could be completed roughly 18 to 20 months after a contract is signed. The interior package is ready to be customized to an owner’s preferences.
For owners of 50- to 80-foot boats who prefer to work with a dedicated shipyard, the Northern Marine Refit Division offers a compelling local option: experienced trades, covered facilities and access to regional marine specialists. “When you’re in that size range and you’re talking about owner-operators, a family or a couple that run their boat, I find that they are serious boaters,” Jennings says. “You don’t go out and decide to buy a 65- or 70-foot boat and then learn how to run it. Most people have been doing it a long time. They know what they’re doing. They have a nice boat, and we want to do good work for them.”
January 2025