There is no single price, and any site that quotes one is guessing. A bare working hull costs a fraction of a fitted charter yacht of the same length. Budgets are quoted in USD per project after the brief; what follows explains what moves the number so you can frame a realistic figure before you ever contact the desk.
What drives the price
- Length and displacement. Cost per metre is non-linear – a 40 m hull is far more than twice a 20 m one because volume grows faster than length.
- Timber grade and sourcing distance. Old-growth ironwood is scarcer and dearer each year.
- Bare hull versus turnkey fit-out. The interior, systems and finish routinely cost more than the hull itself.
- Class, flag and certification scope. A BKI-classed charter vessel carries survey and documentation costs a private hull does not.
- Design and supervision services. Naval architecture, interior design and any owner’s representation are add-ons to the yard price.
Budget bands by project type
Rather than invent figures, the desk frames every enquiry against three honest bands, then issues real USD numbers after the brief.
- Working / bare hull – the entry point: a sound timber hull with basic propulsion, no charter interior.
- Owner’s conversion-ready hull – hull, deck and core systems ready for you to fit out to your own specification.
- Turnkey charter or dive liveaboard – fully fitted, certified and ready to earn, at a multiple of the bare-hull figure.
How payment actually flows
- A mobilisation payment covers the first timber purchase.
- Stage payments release against physical milestones verified on site – never a large up-front deposit.
- Ceremony and launch costs are owner-sponsored and usually settled in IDR at local rates.
- Nothing substantial is paid before there is timber and progress to show for it.
Costs owners forget
- The delivery voyage to your cruising ground – crew, fuel and time.
- Registration, BKI and syahbandar fees, which are government charges payable in IDR.
- First-year maintenance – a new wooden hull needs attention as it settles.
Get a real number
Send length, use and target season to the desk on WhatsApp for a written USD budget frame tied to the current timber market – there is no generic price list here, precisely because the timber market moves. The commissioning programme explains how that budget becomes a contract, and the build process shows where each payment lands. Everyday questions are answered on the FAQ page.
Get a written USD budget frame or email sales@komodoluxury.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a wooden boat at Bira?
Budgets are quoted in USD per project. A bare working hull is the entry point; a fully fitted charter or dive liveaboard of the same length can cost several times more once interiors, systems and certification are included.
Why is there no public price list?
Timber cost, hull size, finish level and certification scope vary so widely that a fixed list would mislead. The desk issues a written USD budget frame after a short brief instead.
What deposit is required?
Builds run on stage payments, not large deposits: a mobilisation instalment covers timber purchase, then payments release against physical milestones verified on site.
Are there hidden costs?
The usual surprises are the delivery voyage, government registration fees (payable in IDR), ceremony sponsorship and first-year maintenance. All four are itemised in the desk’s budget frame.
Is building cheaper than buying a used boat?
Not always. A new build buys exact specification and known timber history; a used hull can be faster and cheaper up front but carries survey risk. The desk can frame both paths.