A classic blue water cruising yacht, a Kelly Peterson 46 called Wasabi 1, was recently at Rivergate Marina & Shipyard for a full exterior refit and was handled with the customary care customers come to expect from the experts on-site.
Initially booked as a period of annual maintenance the project quickly developed into providing Wasabi 1 a top to bottom service and a new lease on life.
Rivergate’s Shipyard Manager, Brandon Hoy managed the project. “The owner first made contact with us in May 2022,” he explained.
“They were seeking advice with some ongoing mechanical and electrical related issues. Our support for a couple years prior to visiting Rivergate had given the owners confidence that Rivergate would be an ideal site for repairs and upgrades.”
Once the capable cruising yacht was hauled out and placed on the hardstand the owners team decided they wanted to undertake a larger project, beyond straightforward maintenance.
With the owners’ agreement, a variety of marine trades were consulted and the project expanded to undertake a full revitalisation of the sailing yacht.
“The works consisted of sandblasting of the hull below waterline and a complete new paint job undertaken by Millennium Marine,” added Brandon.
“Also required was tank cleaning, full deck fitting and hardware removal and resealing, mast removal and refitting, fresh deck and hull paint work, varnishing of capping and handrails, new anchor system plus new dodger, Bimini and hatch covers.
“The owner also opted for a full vessel cover and approved minor mechanical, interior cabinetry work and electrical rectification.”
Over eight months, the project involved shipwrights, electricians, yacht riggers, mechanics and marine paint specialists (listed below).
The most challenging aspect of the project was coordination of the marine trades involved, and Brandon managed that with the application of his expertise acquired during more than 20 years in the marine industry
“It does take a lot of planning, foresight and the ability to adapt to changing situations,” Brandon commented.
“Throughout the project, the owner added additional areas of the vessel to focus on. The full exterior refit meant I had to upscale the resources to achieve the owners’ expectations.”
Returning to water once more, before heading north to her Scarborough Marina home base, Wasabi 1 looks and as fresh as new with her hull gleaming white with a navy boot stripe, and cutter rig revamped and ready for all conditions.
“As first-time customers, it was a leap of faith for them to put their trust in the Project Management and trades at Rivergate,” continued Brandon. “The quality of work and our level of communication at every stage surpassed their expectations. They’re thrilled with the result and can’t wait to set sail.”
Taking delivery of Wasabi 1, her proud owners commented, “We are so pleased with how the refit has turned out. The whole process felt seamless thanks to Brandon’s expert management.
“Brandon was recommended to us by friends who had experienced his professional management of their yacht maintenance project and had nothing but praise for his level of knowledge, expertise and communication throughout the process.
“We knew we would be in safe hands and we were not disappointed. Thank you, Brandon for bringing Wasabi 1 to life again and for making a potentially stressful experience anything but that.”
Trades involved in Project Wasabi
Painters – Millennium Marine
Shipwrights – Gateway Marine Shipwrights
Electricians – M2i Electrical
Yacht Riggers – Rope solutions
Marine Mechanical & electrical – Inspectaboat
About Rivergate Marina and Shipyard – Australia:
Rivergate Marina and Shipyard is a family-owned business located on the Brisbane River on the east coast of Australia with deep water access and close to the superyacht cruising grounds of the Great Barrier Reef and Pacific Islands. Established in 2006, Rivergate is recognised in the industry as one of the top 3 superyacht refit facilities in the world. It features 300-tonne and 75-tonne travel lifts, 55-metre refit shed, hardstand, berthing for vessels up to 90 metres, 24-hour fuel wharf and more than 20 world-class marine trades.
