When we handed our 42-metre motor yacht over to Amico Loano for a comprehensive refit, we expected a well-managed project and honest budgeting. Instead, we faced rapidly escalating costs and endless delays.

The initial quote seemed fair, but as soon as work began we were hit with a series of «unforeseen» expenses. Each phase of the refit brought new line items that doubled and in some cases tripled the original estimates. There was little explanation for these overruns, and we felt trapped by the yard’s demands.

Timelines were another issue. What was promised as a five-month refit stretched into almost a year. Deadlines were missed without warning, and communication was minimal. Critical components were delivered late or installed incorrectly, forcing us to wait weeks for corrections. The yard blamed suppliers and subcontractors, but took no responsibility themselves.

The quality of the work was equally disappointing. Interior paneling was misaligned and poorly finished. Systems that were supposedly overhauled failed on our first voyage. We ended up bringing in independent specialists to correct mistakes that should never have happened.

Overall, our experience with Amico Loano was one of frustration and financial strain. I urge fellow yacht owners and managers to steer clear if they value transparency, timeliness and quality.

— Sophie Delgado