Yacht marble restoration in Dubrovnik

Where we work in Dubrovnik

Three areas account for almost all of the yachts we can meet here, plus the anchorages along the coast. Access and timing are different in each.

• ACI Marina Dubrovnik
• Port of Gruž
• Marina Frapa Dubrovnik

ACI Marina Dubrovnik, Komolac

The ACI marina sits at Komolac, on the inlet formed by the Ombla, one of the shortest rivers in the world, about six kilometres from the old town. Yachts pass under the road bridge at the entrance of the inlet and continue upstream to a well-sheltered basin, open all year, with a boatyard, a travel lift and space ashore. The marina is built around the Sorkočević summer residence, a late sixteenth-century villa of the Dubrovnik nobility, which gives the place a calm that Gruž does not have. For our team, Komolac is the easiest place to work: a quiet berth, room on the quay, and a city bus to the old town in about a quarter of an hour.

Gruž harbour

Gruž is the commercial port, on the opposite side of the peninsula from the walls, about three kilometres away. Foreign yachts clear customs here, the large cruise quays are here, and ferries and catamarans to the islands leave from here. A short stretch of quay beyond the ferry berths is set aside for yachts, with water and electricity, and the refurbished quay further along allows alongside berthing. It is lively, noisy and exposed to wash from passing traffic. When we work on a yacht in Gruž, we keep everything inside, protect the passerelle and agree on hours when the boat is likely to be steady.

Lapad side of Gruž Bay

Opposite the ferry port, on the Lapad side of the bay, Marina Frapa Dubrovnik offers sheltered berths, mostly for yachts between ten and fifty metres, and a single berth for a yacht of up to one hundred metres. It is closer to the old town than Komolac, which some guests prefer.

Anchorages

Many yachts prefer to stay out. The usual spots are off Lokrum, just south-east of the walls, where lines cannot be taken ashore; the bays of Koločep, Lopud and Šipan in the Elaphiti group; and Cavtat, a few miles to the south-east, which also has a seasonal port of entry. Upstream of ACI, some captains anchor in the inlet itself. When the sea and the tender allow it, we come aboard at anchor. On Šipan, Šipanska Luka is well protected; Lopud is exposed to a southerly swell, so we choose the day carefully.

Yards and lay-up

The ACI marina at Komolac has its own boatyard, with a sixty-tonne travel lift, a crane and hard standing for well over a hundred boats, so smaller yachts can be hauled out within a few hundred metres of their summer berth. Whether the yacht is on the hard or still afloat, we work with the agreement of the marina or the yard.

Yacht marble restoration in Dubrovnik: when to book

The cruising season on this part of the coast runs roughly from May to October. July and August bring settled weather, warm sea and the most guests; September and October are quieter, but the bora returns more often. Each period suits a different kind of work.

1. 01

   Spring, before the first charter

   The best time for a complete programme. The yacht is often still in Komolac, the guest areas are empty, and floors, bathrooms and stairs can be polished, repaired and protected over several days.

2. 02

   Between two charters

   When a charter ends in Dubrovnik and the next one starts here, there is often a window of a few hours. We use it for etch marks, limescale and table tops, starting with the cabins the stews release first.

3. 03

   At anchor in the Elaphiti

   A yacht waiting off Šipan or Koločep for her next guests can be reached by tender in calm conditions. This works well for targeted jobs that do not need heavy equipment.

4. 04

   End of season and winter

   After October, yachts that winter in Komolac or on the hard give us time for slow work: resin repairs that need to cure, large floor areas and stairs.

Getting our team aboard in Dubrovnik

• Confirm whether the yacht is at Komolac, in Gruž, on the Lapad side or at anchor
• If she is in Gruž, tell us which quay and whether a cruise ship is expected that day
• Register the team with the marina reception or the yard if access is controlled
• For an anchorage visit, give us the tender pick-up point and time
• Send low-angle daylight photos of the damaged areas on WhatsApp
• List the stones on board, especially onyx or backlit panels

Our full process, from first contact to the final check with the chief stew, is described in how we work on board. Captains and interior teams can also read our page for yacht crew.