RefitX to Bring America’s Yacht Refit Specialists Together in Fort Lauderdale

About two dozen refit shipyards stretch across the United States. Next fall, coinciding with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), a refit-centric event is taking place in Florida. RefitX intends to spotlight not just the regional yards, but also specialists from around the country, with a particular emphasis on education.

RefitX is set for October 27 and 28 in the Broward County Convention Center. The dates are the first two days of FLIBS, to take advantage of more owners, captains, and other decision makers being present. The organizers are the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), which owns FLIBS, and Informa Markets. The latter is the producer of the Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Monaco shows as well as the upcoming event The Future of Refit in Monaco.

The timing goes beyond the boat show, however. Phil Purcell, MIASF’s CEO and president, notes that the U.S. marine industry is benefitting from more attention and especially investment. Every year, for instance, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration issues grants to small shipyards, including superyacht builders and refit facilities. For fiscal year 2026, it has awarded $35 million, up from nearly $9 million in fiscal year 2025. Superyacht yards such as Burger Boat Company, Delta Marine, and Thunderbolt Marine were among the recipients this year. Marine Group Boat Works, meanwhile, is a previous recipient. “As shipyards invest in infrastructure, technology, and workforce development, there is a real opportunity to bring the industry together to exchange ideas, address shared challenges, and help shape what comes next for the refit sector,” Purcell says.

RefitX will include exhibits and opportunities to meet with specialists. Naturally, shipyards will be among them, but so will technology providers, designers, fabricators, and other professionals. The educational programming is the core aspect, though. Keynote speakers and panel discussions will focus on major issues within refit, for example, plus workforce development and evolving owner expectations. Sustainability, shipyard modernization strategies, project planning, and real-world case studies are additional subjects.

Further details about programming and exhibitors will be shared on the dedicated RefitX website in the coming weeks. Attendees at FLIBS later this month, however, will get an early look at some of what RefitX intends to do.

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