The verdict in three sentences
A superyacht refit yard website does not sell to the general public: its job is to get the yard onto the shortlist of a captain or fleet manager comparing Palma, Barcelona, La Ciotat and Genoa. The 2026 order of magnitude with a European agency is 12,000 to 30,000 EUR excl. VAT for an English-first bilingual site with precise capability sheets and a slot request form, delivered in 10 to 14 weeks. Technical content (travel lift, berths, draft, approved contractors) weighs more than aesthetics in the decision, especially in Palma where several yards compete within a few hundred metres.
What a captain looks for in 60 seconds
Refit decision makers often browse from the bridge or a phone in port, on an average connection. They want to check feasibility before calling.
| Information sought | Captain priority | Fleet manager priority | Recommended format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifting capacity (e.g. 300 t travel lift) and maximum length | Very high | High | Capability sheet, figures table |
| Berths, draft, available linear length | Very high | Medium | Light interactive map |
| Slot availability over 12 months | High | Very high | Request form with dates |
| Refit references (size, duration, works) | High | Very high | Short case studies, photos |
| Approved on-site contractors (paint, joinery, electronics) | Medium | High | Filterable directory |
| Crew services (housing, transport, concierge) | High | Medium | Dedicated page |
| Certifications, insurance, environmental compliance | Medium | Very high | Downloadable PDFs |
An often forgotten point: the English version must be the reference version, written by a native writer who knows the trade, not a machine translation from Spanish. Captains immediately spot loose vocabulary around hauling, dry dock or paint sheds.
The budget line by line
The table below gives a 2026 order of magnitude for a European agency on this type of project. It is not a Kolonell rate.
| Budget line | Essential version | Full version | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy, sitemap, competitor benchmark | 1,500 EUR | 3,500 EUR | Comparison with 4 to 6 yards |
| Custom design, 15 to 30 templates | 3,000 EUR | 7,000 EUR | Desktop and mobile |
| Development, CMS, bilingual | 3,500 EUR | 8,000 EUR | English first |
| Optimized video galleries (adaptive streaming) | 1,000 EUR | 3,000 EUR | Filming excluded |
| Capability sheets and berth map | 1,000 EUR | 3,000 EUR | Editable data |
| Slot request form connected to CRM | 1,000 EUR | 2,500 EUR | Automatic qualification |
| Native English copy and international SEO | 1,000 EUR | 3,000 EUR | 15 to 30 pages |
| Indicative total | 12,000 EUR | 30,000 EUR | 10 to 14 weeks |
At Kolonell, a Premium website sits on our grid between 2,000,000 and 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR), with advanced animations and in-depth SEO included. Video filming, specialized native English copywriting and custom CRM integrations are priced on top, depending on scope. Maintenance: 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (50, 110 or 180 EUR).
Performance: the 1.5 MB rule
A shipyard website lives on heavy photos and videos, which kills speed on harbour 4G. Set the rule in the brief: every page under 1.5 MB on first load, deferred videos, AVIF or WebP images, and useful content displayed in under 2.5 seconds. A 40 MB autoplay homepage video drives mobile visitors away before they have seen the travel lift. The fix is to show a still image, then start adaptive streaming only on click.
Mini case study
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Miguel, sales director of a refit yard in Palma (illustrative scenario), receives 8 qualified requests a year through the current site. An average refit of a 50 m yacht represents 1.2 M EUR in revenue with an 18% gross margin, so 216,000 EUR. He invests 24,000 EUR in a new English-first site with a slot request form. If the site brings in just one more converted request per year, it pays for itself 9 times in the first year. Even with a cautious assumption of one extra refit every two years, the return stays above 4 times the investment.
FAQ
Do we need separate sites for captains and owners?
No, one site is enough, with two journeys: a technical one (capabilities, slots) and a trust one (references, guarantees). A separate site doubles maintenance costs, adding 30 to 50% to the budget with no measurable gain.
How many languages should we plan?
English and Spanish cover most needs in Palma. German or Italian is worth adding if more than 20% of requests come from those markets, at an extra 2,000 to 4,000 EUR per language.
Can we show a live availability calendar?
It is possible but commercially risky: most yards prefer a form with requested dates and an answer within 24 h. A calendar synced with the planning tool costs an extra 3,000 to 8,000 EUR.
What is a realistic launch timeline?
Plan 10 to 14 weeks, including 3 to 4 weeks to collect technical content and references. Internal approvals almost always stretch the schedule, not development.
How do we measure the site's return?
Track the number of qualified slot requests (length, dates, type of works) and their conversion into signed quotes. A 15 to 25% rate from request to quote is a healthy order of magnitude in the sector.
Let's scope your project. Describe your capabilities, target markets and timing: we will draft the bilingual sitemap and an indicative budget suited to your yard. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
