Australia’s Largest Charter Superyacht Selects Awlgrip Coating

Yachtsmiths, the Gold Coast-based superyacht finishing company, selected AkzoNobel’s Awlgrip HDT and Awlcraft 3000 to achieve the gold standard in superyacht coatings for superior gloss, durability, and long-term protection.

Spanning almost nine months of meticulous work, the result was a remarkable high-gloss finish that met the highest expectations of both the owner and the yacht finishing professionals at Yachtsmiths.

One of the Directors of Yachtsmiths, Mitchell Zigenbine, said: “I’ve been working with AkzoNobel products for my entire career. I’d estimate that 90-95 percent of our projects involve AkzoNobel products, specifically the Awlgrip and Awlcraft lines.

“Once we decide on the paint system for a project, we stick with that brand throughout, whether it’s etch priming, fairing, or top coating. This ensures maximum performance and aligns with warranty systems.

“On MY Mischief, we spent six to seven months working inside the shed. Scaffolding went up in January 2024, and we began work shortly thereafter. In August, the yacht underwent a month-long water-based preparation process before the refit was completed and her first charter.

“Our original scope of work included widespread corrosion mediation and a full refinish, but as the project progressed, the owner made additional requests. These included the removal of a few hundred through-hulls to prevent water ingress and addressing minor structural issues.

“The hull and topsides didn’t require significant repair work, but the extra requests added complexity. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we were thrilled with the results.

“We started in warm, humid conditions and transitioned into Australia’s cooler winter months. Adjusting the mix of thinners allowed us to comply with the different temperature conditions and ensured consistent application quality. We also had the advantage of doing a preliminary application, using Awlgrip HDT as a flow coat option, which allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the product before the final topcoat.

“The main challenges were environmental fluctuations and meeting the coating acceptance criteria set by an independent inspector.”

The Mischief project, the first superyacht over 50m LOA to be coated with Awlgrip HDT in Australia, was a highlight for the Yachtsmiths business, which is based at the Gold Coast area of Queensland, employs 50 people and primarily focuses on refits and repair projects.

Mitchell explains: “Projects usually come to us around the two to five year mark, when vessels start showing service defects like corrosion or rust. Depending on the owner’s time and budget, we handle either full-scale repaints or spot repairs.”

The successful refit of Mischief reflects the long-standing partnership between the two organizations, founded on mutual trust, innovative solutions, and technical expertise.

Going forward, the relationship between the team at Yachtsmiths and AkzoNobel will strengthen even further.

The launch of AkzoNobel’s state-of-the-art Yacht Paint Application Center (YPAC) at Gold Coast City Marina, Coomera, in October has captured strong interest from the Yachtsmiths team. The facility delivers world-class technical training and showcases the latest in digital paint application technology.

“One area where we’re particularly excited to see further collaboration is through the use of their new YPAC training facility, which represents a fantastic opportunity to enhance our team’s skills and stay at the forefront of coating application techniques.

We look forward to utilizing YPAC to gain hands-on experience with new products, refine our application methods, and deepen our understanding of AkzoNobel’s innovative solutions.

“It’s a fantastic step forward for the industry, offering much-needed training and skill development. Our collaboration with AkzoNobel has been instrumental in our growth, and we look forward to strengthening that relationship further.”