RefitX, a new conference and exhibition dedicated exclusively to the refit industry, will be previewed at this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, with the full two-day conference and exhibition to debut during FLIBS 2027.
FLIBS is scheduled for Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
With an increasing number of superyacht owners in the U.S., the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, owner of FLIBS, will hold an event to bring the refit industry together to exchange ideas, address shared challenges and help shape what comes next.
“We have established refit capabilities all across the country, in San Diego, Seattle, Wisconsin, Maine, the Gulf Coast and other places,” Phil Purcell, MIASF CEO and president, said in an exclusive online interview with Soundings Trade Only editor-in-chief David Gee. “We were looking for a place to bring the industry together, and we felt FLIBS was the right way forward because of the size of the show and the attendance.”
“RefitX this year is really a teaser for 2027,” added Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows at Informa Markets, who also is featured in the interview. “While the full RefitX will launch in 2027, we’re excited to introduce elements at FLIBS 2026 that will give attendees a preview of the topics, discussions and opportunities they can expect next year.”
Education will be at the core of RefitX, and programming will address both the day-to-day realities of executing complex refit projects and the larger trends shaping the sector, according to a FLIBS press release.
Topics will include the standardization of contracts, emerging technologies and materials, project planning, workforce development, sustainability, and changing owner and customer expectations, among others.
Next year’s full RefitX conference is scheduled for Oct. 27-28 during FLIBS, creating dedicated content and a community for the refit sector alongside the world’s largest in-water boat show.
