Bira Phinisi Builder
Commission a new-build phinisi at the Bira and Bulukumba yards — from lines and keel-laying to sea trial and launch. USD build contracts issued after a written specification.
Commission a Build
Four staged milestones from brief to launch — a written spec before a single plank.
Build Cost & Timeline
Honest USD bands and a realistic schedule — a firm price follows the spec.
Class-Compliant New-Build
Built to BKI class with a documented sea trial before handover.
01 — The programme
Commission a new-build phinisi, in four stages
Every commission is a construction project run to a signed specification, with a deliverable and a payment milestone at each stage — so an owner, local or overseas, always knows what has been built and paid.
Brief & Lines
Length, cabins, rig and use become a lines plan and general arrangement.
Contract & Keel
A USD contract is signed and the keel is laid on the beach.
Build & Supervision
Shell, deck, systems and interior, reported against milestones.
Sea Trial & Launch
Every system proven under load, then handover with documents.
02 — What we build
Four vessel lines on one hull tradition
Dive & cruise vessels
Dive deck, compressors, national-park ready.
LOA 28–45 m · 6–12 cabins
Turn-key charter vessels
Delivered charter-ready to Labuan Bajo, Bali, Raja Ampat.
Commercial-compliant · crew quarters
Private owner commissions
Bespoke joinery, quiet systems, yacht-grade finish.
Owner's suite · fewer, larger cabins
Rig & hull variations
Schooner, gulet-style, hybrid motor-sailer, steel-hull.
Ketch · gaff · expedition
03 — The craft (our moat)
How a phinisi is actually built
The reason a phinisi lasts decades is in the method — a planked shell shaped by eye, frames fitted inside it, and modern engineering built into a timber hull.
Process · carvel planking
Keel to launch, the Bugis shell-first method.
Hull & ironwoodHull & ironwood · ulin scantlings
Ironwood, bitti and teak; the craft of fastening.
RigRig · ketch rig
Two masts, seven sails; sailing vs motor-sailer.
SystemsSystems · twin diesels
Engines, power, tankage and watermaker in timber.
InteriorsInteriors · teak parquet
Cabins, galley and bespoke marine joinery.
DesignDesign · gross tonnage
Lines, stability, displacement and tonnage.
04 — Cost, class & ownership
An honest look at the numbers
Build Cost & Timeline
Indicative bands by size and a realistic 12–24 month schedule. A firm price follows a written spec.
BKI classClass, Compliance & Sea Trial
Built to class with stability, load line and a documented sea trial before handover.
InvestmentBuild-to-Invest
Turn-key charter builds and shared-ownership syndicates, charter-ready from the contract stage.
05 — The yards
Where we build
Bira & Tanjung Bira
The Bonto Bahari coast where hulls are framed in the open air.
~12 km from the Ara yards
BulukumbaBulukumba Regency
Butta Panrita Lopi — the regency map of active yards.
~5–6 h by road from Makassar
VillagesAra & Lemo-Lemo
The shipwright hamlets where the craft actually lives.
Punggawa & sawi tradition
06 — Who we are
Part of Juara Holding Group
Bira Phinisi Builder is the new-build phinisi commissioning desk of Juara Holding Group (established 2015), building at the Bira and Bulukumba yards. Build contracts are issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. Sister maritime brands — charter and boat services, haul-out and refit, survey and buyer-side acquisition — operate as separate businesses with separate contracts and fees.
07 — Questions
Phinisi build FAQ
How much does it cost to build a phinisi?
It is priced in USD after a written specification. As planning guidance, a compact liveaboard starts in the mid-six figures and a large luxury yacht runs into the low seven figures.
How long does it take to build a phinisi?
Twelve to twenty-four months from keel-laying to launch, depending on size and finish.
Where are phinisi built?
On the open beaches of Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi — chiefly Ara, Tana Lemo and Lemo-Lemo near Tanjung Bira.
Can I commission a phinisi from overseas?
Yes. Most owners commission from abroad and supervise remotely against dated milestones, optionally through an owner's representative.
Do you sell finished boats or run charters?
No. We only build new phinisi. Brokerage, charter and survey are separate businesses with separate contracts.