A prime contractor dedicated to boat refits
Canet-en-Roussillon is already home to many players in the nautical industry, particularly multihulls. A group of 5 founders, including Sailing Atlantic Services - SAS, electrician and electronics specialist Med 66, riggers and deckhands Atelier Gréement, fittings and spare parts specialist Cap'tain Chercheur and handling company SMS, have joined forces to create the Pôle Refit Village association, with the aim of strengthening the existing offer by providing an integrated project management service for yachtsmen wishing to give their boats a facelift. Vincent Paravey of Cap'tain Chercheur explains: "This will be an innovative offering, with professionals coming together and a single billing entity for the customer, with a prime contractor. Adrien Jousset will be responsible for marketing the Pôle Refit Village services. In addition to the founding partners, we will involve other local professional partners."
Extensive technical resources
The Refit Village is launching a major investment program to ensure the quality of its service, and by autumn 2024 it will be equipped with major facilities. A 4,700 m2 quayside plot of land has been acquired and a building permit approved. A quayside capable of accommodating monohulls and multihulls from 10 to 30 meters in length, and weighing up to 85 tons, will be completed by two buildings. Vincent Paravey adds: "With the SAS buildings nearby, this means 9,000 m2 dedicated to refit in Canet-en-Roussillon. SMS acquires a remote-controlled, modular trailer to move the boats."
Anticipating a market of the future
Canet-en-Roussillon has already made a name for itself in the yachting sector, but it is partly short of space. With its new tools, the Pôle Refit Village intends to help the entire local nautical industry, with tools such as its trailer to optimize handling, but also by working with the port on the use of the careening area.
More broadly speaking, the Roussillon-based association is paving the way for a refit market with a bright future, as Vincent Paravey concludes. "Offering innovative services in refit is in line with the logic of the market, where people will buy more and more used boats."
