Classic Works

Classic Works is a yacht refit and restoration company based within the La Ciotat shipyard in the south of France, founded in January 2003 by Butch Dalrymple-Smith and Alex Laird. The company restores, refits and repairs classic and modern sailing and motor yachts, handling wood, steel, aluminium and composite construction, and states it has worked on more than 160 yachts since 2003. Its stated scope covers modern yachts up to 45 metres and classic vessels of any size, with in-house project management, design office support and naval architecture. Work is carried out in its own covered workshop and hard standing, or afloat alongside in the shipyard.

Classic Works was founded in January 2003 by naval architect and engineer Butch Dalrymple-Smith and shipwright Alex Laird, who had previously worked together on the restorations of the classic yachts Royono and Orion at La Ciotat; Erik Wirta joined the team in 2008. The company's first project was a full hull, deckhouse, deck and systems rebuild on the 22m Laurent Giles ketch Star Sapphire, followed by work on classic yachts including Eileen, Marigold, Partridge, Moonbeam IV, The Lady Anne, Oiseau de Feu, Solway Maid, Eilidh, Irene VIII and Thendara, plus a new 48m spruce mast for the Fife-designed cutter Cambria. The team states it has worked on over 160 classic and modern, sail and motor yachts since 2003, and works in English, French and German.

Services

Refits, restorations and repairs for modern yachts up to 45m and classic vessels of all sizes
Woodwork: traditional shipwrighting, hull planking, joinery, mast making, pattern making, wood carving
Decks: new teak decks, deck repairs, seam replacement, ply sub-decks, fairing, refastening, varnishing
Painting: full paint cycles, spray and hand application, filling and fairing, topsides polishing, gold leaf
Metalwork: welding, steel fabrication, stainless and aluminium work, steel and copper riveting, bronze casting, machining and turning
Composites: glass fibre works, epoxy sheathing, GRP exhaust runs, vacuum bag panel construction
Mechanical: engine installations, generators, shaft alignments, hydraulics, propellers, rudders, winches, windlasses, anchoring systems
Systems: air conditioning, electrical and electronics, heating, lighting, batteries and power, refrigeration, plumbing, stabilisers
Hull treatments: sandblasting, bio-degradable grain blasting, high pressure washing, antifouling, copper coating, ultrasonic thickness testing
Interior: cabinet making, interior design, veneering, French polishing, staining, varnishing
Support: dedicated bilingual project manager, CAD drawings and class work, stability and design studies, crew support services

Facilities

3,000 m² of dedicated fully serviced hard standing
1,500 m² covered workshop with opening roof for yacht access
Options for work outside under thermoplastic cover, blocked off ashore, or moored alongside
Located within the 35-hectare La Ciotat shipyard, with travel lift, hydraulic ship lift, dry docks, gantry, dockyard and mobile cranes, and extensive quayside berthing; access controlled 24/24

Vessel Types

Classic and modern sailing and motor yachts
Hulls in wood, wood on steel, steel, aluminium, GRP and carbon composite
Project list ranges from small classics under 10m to motor yachts of 80m and 99m LOA

Location

46 Quai François Mitterrand, Chantier Naval, 13600 La Ciotat, France
Between Marseille and Toulon on the French Mediterranean coast, near Marseille-Provence, Toulon-Hyères and Le Castellet airports