Commission a New-Build Phinisi — From Lines to Launch

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A phinisi commission is a construction project, and we run it like one. You are not choosing from a catalogue of finished boats — you are agreeing a specification, then watching a hull grow on the beach against that specification. This page sets out the four stages, what you receive at each, and how the money is staged so an owner keeps control from the first drawing to the sea trial.

Stage 1 — Brief & Lines

Everything starts with a written brief: overall length, beam, the number and type of cabins, the rig you want (motor-sailer or working sail), the intended use — dive liveaboard , charter , private yacht — a target launch window and a budget band. From the brief we develop a lines plan and a general arrangement: the hull form, displacement, and the cabin layout. See how we translate a brief into hull form on the naval architecture and design page.

Stage 2 — Contract & Keel

When the specification and general arrangement are agreed, we issue a USD build contract. The contract fixes the scope, the payment milestones, the delivery window and the class target. Only then do we lay the keel — the ceremony the Konjo shipwrights call the start of a vessel’s life. From that day the boat exists as a signed, scheduled object, not a conversation. Cost bands by size are set out on the build cost and timeline page.

Stage 3 — Build & Supervision

This is the long stage — typically twelve to twenty-four months depending on size and finish. The hull shell is planked and framed in the Bugis shell-first method, the deck and superstructure go on, then the engines, tankage and systems and finally the interiors and joinery . Throughout, we report against milestones with dated photographs and video, and we welcome yard visits. Overseas owners typically manage the project remotely or appoint an owner’s representative; western-standard quality control is built into the schedule.

Milestone	Deliverable you can verify
Contract & keel	Signed spec, general arrangement, keel laid
Hull shell & framing	Planked shell, frames fitted, fairing begun
Deck & superstructure	Deck laid, deckhouse and wheelhouse framed
Systems & interior	Engine and tanks installed, joinery fitted out
Sea trial & handover	Trial data, snag list cleared, documents handed over

Stage 4 — Sea Trial & Handover

Before we hand over the keys, the vessel runs a sea trial: main engine and gearbox, steering, the rig , generators, bilge and fire systems, and a check for leaks and vibration under load. We record the data, clear the snag list, and complete the handover with the class and compliance documents. What leaves the beach is a finished, trialled boat — not a promise.

Building for a charter business

Many owners build to earn. If the vessel is destined for the charter trade, we specify it charter-ready from the contract stage — cabin count, guest ratio and compliance sized to the market. See build-to-invest and build a phinisi for charter . Vessel and charter management after delivery is a separate service; we can point you to professional vessel and charter management after delivery (a separate service, under a separate contract).

What you receive at handover

A completed commission delivers more than a hull. You receive the signed specification and general arrangement, the as-built drawings, the class and stability documentation , the sea-trial data, an inventory of systems and equipment, and the maintenance guidance that keeps a timber vessel sound. A boat without its papers is half a boat; we hand over both.

Who should commission a build

Commissioning suits owners with a clear operation in mind — a dive operator who knows their itinerary, a private owner who wants a specific layout, an investor building a charter asset . It suits people who value getting exactly what they specify over getting something immediately. If speed matters more than fit, buying an existing vessel may be the better route, and we will say so.

A note on trust

A two-year build on a distant beach runs on trust, and trust is built from verifiable milestones, not promises. That is why every stage of our programme has a deliverable you can check by photo, video or visit, and why we publish an honest reporting policy rather than star scores. The best proof we can offer is the structure of the project itself.

Construction, new-build and refit contracts are issued by PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara. Part of Juara Holding Group.