Yacht Refit Technology Playbook — What to Upgrade in a Yard Period

Know Your Yard Window

Every technology decision starts with the yard schedule. A 2-week yard period is very different from a 10-week one. Some scopes fit in a 2-week window (Starlink swap, UniFi network refresh, Crestron keypad retrofit). Others need 6+ weeks (full Crestron 3-Series to 4-Series migration with DM NVX replacement).

The first step is always a conversation with the yard project manager and the chief engineer to understand:

• →Total yard duration and critical-path items
• →Interior disturbance windows (what days can crew actually work in staterooms)
• →Other trades in parallel — hull, paint, propulsion, generator, interior
• →Power availability during yard period (shore power, generator runtime)
• →Climate control and dust protection for equipment rooms

Everything downstream depends on these answers.

Priority 1 — Crestron 3-Series Migration

If the vessel runs a Crestron 3-Series processor (CP3, MC3, PRO3, AV3, DIN-AP3, or RMC3), this is the single most important upgrade to plan. 3-Series is end of life. No new units are manufactured. Failure in mid-charter means the control system is dark until a refurb unit can be sourced and shipped — potentially weeks.

The refit path:

• →Pull the existing 3-Series processor and inventory all connected Cresnet, DM, and network devices
• →Install CP4-R flagship or MC4-R depending on vessel size and AV complexity
• →Re-program in SIMPL# or migrate to Crestron Home OS for modern setup
• →Enroll in Crestron XiO Cloud for remote monitoring and firmware push
• →Commission with the crew on-site — every scene, every automation, every intercom path

On a typical 50-meter vessel this is a 3 to 5 week job, depending on how much of the existing programming carries forward and how much is rebuilt from scratch.

Priority 2 — DM NVX Video Distribution

Legacy DM matrix switchers (DM-MD8x8, DM-MD16x16, DMPS series) are heavy, power-hungry, and tied to proprietary Cresnet cabling. DM NVX replaces them with 4K60 4:4:4 HDR video distribution over standard 1Gb Ethernet. One encoder per source, one decoder per display. The switching becomes the network, not a bulky rack unit.

Refit approach: if the vessel already has CAT6A runs to every display, the swap is straightforward — replace the matrix with NVX-E30 encoders at sources and NVX-D30 decoders at displays. If not, new CAT6A runs need to happen during the yard period while interior trim is open.

Every new build or refit happening in 2026 should go to NVX. There's no reason to install a new DM matrix today.

Priority 3 — Starlink Maritime + UniFi

If the vessel still runs legacy VSAT, replacing it with Starlink Maritime plus Peplink cellular failover and a UniFi Enterprise onboard network is the fastest ROI item on any yacht refit. Typical VSAT packages cost thousands per month. Starlink Maritime is a fraction of that and delivers broadband speeds anywhere on earth.

Refit scope: pull the VSAT dome and its equipment, mount the Starlink flat-panel antenna, install a Peplink MAX HD2 or HD4 for multi-WAN, deploy UniFi Enterprise core and E7 access points throughout the vessel, and commission the full stack with VLAN segmentation for guest, crew, AV, IoT, and helm networks.

This piece typically fits in a 2 to 4 week window and can run in parallel with other trades. For a full breakdown see our Starlink Maritime connectivity playbook.

Priority 4 — Crestron Lighting Control

On yachts we standardize on Crestron for lighting control. Legacy 3-Series Crestron lighting modules are end of life alongside the 3-Series processor itself — when you migrate the control system to 4-Series, you migrate the lighting modules with it. New 4-Series dimmers, keypads, and lighting control modules run on the same bus as everything else, so lighting, AV, shades, and HVAC all live on one unified Crestron platform from master suite to helm.

For a yacht the keypad-to-processor wiring typically runs through the aluminum or steel structure and is expensive to replace. The good news: the Crestron Cresnet and low-voltage keypad runs are frequently reusable. We replace the keypads, swap the dimmer modules, update the 4-Series program, and re-commission without pulling new wire through the vessel.

Why Crestron for yachts specifically? Because marine environments are harder on hardware than residential or commercial spaces — salt air, constant vibration, vessel power, and tight integration requirements with the main automation system. Running lighting and automation on one unified Crestron platform removes integration seams, removes redundant hardware, and gives the crew one place to diagnose issues. For residential, hospitality, and commercial projects we lead with Lutron — but on yachts it's Crestron end-to-end.

Plan 2 to 4 weeks for a Crestron lighting refit on a typical vessel, including commissioning and crew walkthrough. When the 4-Series processor migration and lighting refit happen in the same yard window, the programming work runs in parallel and the total time drops meaningfully.

Priority 5 — UniFi Protect Security

Legacy camera systems on yachts typically use outdated Hikvision, Dahua, or Avigilon platforms — some with licensing fees, some with unreliable cloud connectivity, all with aging hardware. UniFi Protect replaces the entire stack with G6 Pro 4K cameras, an ENVR Core NVR, and AI detection running on-device.

Key benefits for a yacht:

• →Zero licensing fees — you own the system
• →Local NVR storage — footage stays on the vessel
• →AI person, vehicle, package detection on-device
• →License plate recognition at gate and tender dock
• →Mobile app access for owner and captain from anywhere
• →Integration with UniFi Access for crew door control

If the existing camera cable runs are in good condition, the UniFi Protect refit can be done in 2 to 3 weeks. If new runs are needed, factor in extra time for cable pulls while interior trim is open.

Audio Systems

Yacht audio is frequently an afterthought in refits — but a well-tuned audio system is one of the most noticed upgrades by owners and charter guests. If the existing speakers are older polycarbonate marine units, the upgrade path is worth considering:

• →L-Acoustics marine speakers and amplifiers for deck and aft deck — concert-quality sound
• →Coastal Source bollard and architectural for sun deck and pool areas
• →James Loudspeaker marine for in-ceiling main saloon, skylounge, master suite
• →All driven through the Crestron 4-Series DSP for unified zone control

Audio refits fit easily into a 2 to 3 week window if wiring is already in place.

Sequencing the Work

For a typical 6 to 8 week yard period covering all of the above, our sequencing looks roughly like this:

• →Week 1 — Deinstall legacy VSAT, legacy cameras, old matrix. Start new CAT6A runs where needed
• →Week 2 — Install Starlink antenna and Peplink. Start UniFi core and AP deployment
• →Week 3 — Install CP4-R processor, migrate program, stage DM NVX encoders/decoders
• →Week 4 — Commission Crestron, commission network, install UniFi Protect cameras
• →Week 5 — Crestron lighting module swap and keypad retrofit
• →Week 6 — Full system commissioning, crew walkthrough, documented handover

Timelines vary by vessel size, existing condition, and concurrent trade work. We typically build the detailed schedule with the yard project manager and chief engineer during pre-yard planning meetings.

Avoiding Schedule Slip

The biggest risks to a technology refit hitting schedule are always the same:

• →Materials arriving late — we pre-order everything, shipped to the yard in advance
• →Other trades blocking access — coordinated daily at the morning meeting
• →Undocumented legacy wiring — we inventory before we remove anything
• →Missing as-built drawings — we survey and document in advance
• →Crew unavailability for commissioning — we schedule commissioning with the crew weeks ahead

A well-planned refit delivers the vessel back on schedule. A poorly planned one slips the entire yard period.

Post-Refit Remote Support

Every system we install is enrolled in remote monitoring. Crestron XiO Cloud handles the control system and lighting. UniFi Site Manager handles the network and cameras. We see faults before the crew notices, and most fixes are pushed remotely from our New York office without dispatching a tech. For a charter yacht running back-to-back weeks through a Mediterranean season, that's the difference between a smooth operation and recurring in-charter emergencies.