Oceanfy Marine SARL by Henrik Moradi Harbou-Hals
Luxury Yacht & Property Restoration - Scandinavian and English-Speaking
10 Yacht Parts That Are Perfect for 3D Printing
And Why Captains Love It
Most delays on a yacht refit are not caused by engines, generators, or major systems.
They are caused by small missing parts.
A broken clip, a cracked plastic cover, or a simple bracket can suddenly stop an installation. And then the crew ends up searching for a supplier, waiting for shipping, or discovering the part has been discontinued.
This is where 3D printing becomes extremely useful for yachts.
Instead of waiting weeks for replacement parts, many small components can be recreated locally and installed within days.
Below are ten types of yacht parts that are especially well suited for 3D printing.
Electrical systems on yachts constantly evolve.
New equipment, upgraded electronics, and refit work often leave crews needing custom cable clips or holders.
3D printing allows technicians to create custom cable organizers that fit the exact installation.
These parts are small, inexpensive, and perfect for additive manufacturing.
Why captains love it:
Because tidy cable routing makes engine rooms and technical spaces safer and easier to maintain.
Mounting brackets are everywhere on a yacht.
They hold sensors, electronics, pumps, lighting, panels, and small components in place.
The challenge is that standard brackets rarely fit perfectly.
With 3D printing, brackets can be designed specifically for the space and installation.
This saves time and avoids modifying generic parts.
Plastic covers are some of the most frequently broken parts on a vessel.
Examples include:
• switch covers
• sensor housings
• instrument covers
• protective caps for fittings
Many of these parts become unavailable after a few years when equipment models change.
A 3D printed replacement can often be designed quickly using the original part as reference.
Small clips hold together panels, trims, lockers, and interior components.
When these clips break, the entire piece can become loose or unusable.
Unfortunately these tiny parts are often sold only as part of larger assemblies.
3D printing makes it possible to recreate the clip alone instead of replacing the entire component.
Modern yachts carry an increasing number of devices:
• Starlink systems
• monitoring sensors
• routers and network equipment
• cameras and navigation electronics
Many of these installations require custom mounts.
Instead of modifying metal brackets or drilling new holes, 3D printed mounts can be designed to fit the equipment precisely.
Crew spaces, engine rooms, and storage lockers often benefit from better organization.
3D printing allows custom solutions such as:
• tool holders
• battery holders
• charger mounts
• spare part organizers
• storage inserts
These parts improve efficiency and help crews keep technical spaces clean and accessible.
Ventilation components are often exposed to sun, vibration, and salt air.
Over time, plastic grilles and covers can crack or degrade.
When replacements are difficult to source, a custom 3D printed grille can often be produced quickly.
UV-resistant materials make these parts suitable for many exterior locations.
During refits, technicians frequently need precise spacers or alignment pieces.
These small components help ensure equipment is mounted correctly and remains stable.
Traditional machining for a single spacer can take time and cost more than the part itself.
3D printing allows these pieces to be produced quickly and accurately.
Control knobs, locker handles, and adjustment dials are small parts that see constant use.
They also break surprisingly often.
If the original manufacturer no longer produces the part, the component can often be recreated using measurements or the original piece.
One of the most underrated uses of 3D printing on yachts is creating tools for the installation process itself.
Examples include:
• drilling templates
• alignment guides
• measurement fixtures
• positioning jigs
These tools make installation work faster and more precise, especially during complex refits.
3D printing is not about replacing traditional shipyard manufacturing.
Instead, it solves the small practical problems that slow projects down.
For captains and technical teams, the advantages are clear:
• faster replacement of small parts
• reduced downtime during refits
• custom solutions for unique installations
• ability to recreate discontinued components
• local production on the French Riviera
In many situations, a part that would normally take weeks to source can be produced in days.
From Broken Part to Replacement
If you have a broken or missing plastic component on board, Oceanfy Marine can review whether it can be recreated through 3D printing.
You do not need technical drawings.
Simply send:
• a photo of the part
• approximate dimensions
• a short explanation of what the component does
Requests can be submitted through the Oceanfy Marine client portal, where the project can be reviewed, designed, and produced.
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