Home › Phinisi Build Cost & Timeline — What a New-Build Really Takes (USD)
A new-build phinisi is a real capital project, and the most useful thing we can do is talk about money honestly. There is no price list, because two 35-metre hulls can differ by a large margin depending on finish and systems. What we can do is explain what drives the cost, give indicative USD bands, and set out a realistic timeline — so you can plan a budget before we ever quote against your specification .
What drives the cost
Length matters, but finish and systems matter more. The biggest cost drivers are the level of interior fit-out , the engines, generators and systems , the class category the vessel is built to, and the rig . A simply-finished regional liveaboard and a full-luxury private yacht of the same length are different projects.
Indicative USD bands
| Vessel | LOA | Indicative band (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Compact liveaboard | 28–32 m | Mid six figures |
| Full dive / charter liveaboard | 33–40 m | Upper six figures |
| Luxury private yacht | 40–45 m+ | Low seven figures and up |
These are planning bands, not quotations. A firm USD price is issued only after a written specification is agreed — because the spec, not the length, sets the number.
A realistic timeline
| Size | Keel to launch |
|---|---|
| 28–30 m | ~14–18 months |
| 33–38 m | ~18–24 months |
| 40 m+ luxury | 24 months and beyond |
Timber availability, weather on the open-beach yard and the complexity of the interior are the main variables. We build the schedule into the contract with milestones you can verify — see the commissioning programme .
The costs owners forget
- Delivery to Labuan Bajo, Bali or Raja Ampat under the vessel’s own power.
- Commissioning and sea-trial time before the boat earns.
- Class certification and registration fees.
- The owner’s supervision or an appointed representative.
- Spares, tools and the first scheduled haul-out.
Owners comparing building against buying an existing vessel should also look at the buyer-side acquisition of an existing phinisi — a different route with a different risk profile.
How a specification sets a price
The reason we quote after a written spec is simple: the spec is the price. The engine and generator choice, the interior fit-out level, the class category , the rig and the electronics can each move the number by a large margin. A vague brief gets a vague band; a clear specification gets a firm, honest figure you can hold us to.
Payment tied to progress
Money follows work. Payments release at verifiable milestones — keel, shell, deck, systems, interior, sea trial — each backed by dated evidence. This protects both sides: the owner never pays ahead of built work, and the yard is paid promptly for stages completed. It is the financial expression of an honest build.
Budgeting for the whole life, not just the build
A sound budget looks past launch. Crew, fuel, insurance, mooring, routine maintenance and scheduled haul-outs are the real cost of ownership, and a timber hull rewards the owner who budgets for care. Owners weighing this against a used boat should also read the cost breakdown and consider buyer-side acquisition of an existing phinisi.
Get a USD budget against your specification. Send the length, cabin count, rig and intended use and the Build Desk will reply with a build slot, an indicative timeline and the specification questions that set a USD price.
WhatsApp the Build Desk Send a written build brief · sales@komodoluxury.com
Construction, new-build and refit contracts are issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. Part of Juara Holding Group.