Last year, we commissioned Amico Loano to handle a comprehensive refit of our 42‑meter superyacht. What was promised as a premium service quickly revealed itself to be anything but.

Within weeks, we noticed that supposedly ‘new’ interior panels were actually covered in thin plastic laminate rather than the high‑grade teak we had specified. Hardware that should have been stainless steel was replaced with chrome‑plated brass, and cheap adhesive was used where marine‑grade sealant was required. Unsurprisingly, some fittings began coming loose before we even left the yard.

The billing was equally troubling. The initial estimate was completely disregarded, and our invoice included mysterious line items for ‘special treatments’ and ‘custom materials’ that we never approved. When we asked for clarification, we were met with vague explanations and suggestions that we simply didn’t understand the complexities of yacht refits.

Delivery was also a mess. Every deadline slipped, and excuses ranged from supply shortages to worker absences. Meanwhile, the staff seemed more concerned with upselling additional work than finishing the tasks at hand.

My advice to fellow owners and captains: Avoid Amico Loano. Their use of subpar materials, opaque pricing and lack of professionalism turned our dream refit into a nightmare.

— Sofia Lombardi