A New Zealand company, Shrink Wrap Services (SWS) of Auckland, is providing a simple and cost-effective answer to yacht refits that may have insufficient undercover space. The wrapping provides companies with a solution to overcome the shortage of refit shed space available in Auckland. Currently there are seven yachts in the city's Viaduct Harbour area using the system.

The wrapping starts off as thick as about five sheets of paper but once heat is applied the material shrinks to approximately 30 per cent of its original surface area, according to a report in The New Zealand Herald. The special shelters can be placed on boats in the water or using PVC piping as a frame structure, it can be made into a stand-alone refit shed.

SWS was set up 18 months ago by Gary and Abbey Whaley and it is to be franchised later this year. The shrink wrap answer was offered to the superyacht industry because of insufficient shed space to meet demand from owners who wanted to have refits carried out in Auckland. "Essentially, we are allowing many other businesses to get a piece of the superyacht pie, and allowing international superyachts to still consider New Zealand as a refit destination," says Gary Whaley in a quote from The New Zealand Herald.

In 2009 the 56m (184ft) Zenji owned by Larry Ellison was worked on by Titan Marine in Viaduct Harbour and it was placed under an SWS covering which kept it dry while work on it was undertaken. Zenji was around for about three months and the work done was reportedly worth some NZ$14m.


Superyacht Business / David Robinson, 24 February 2010