At ONEXP, we believe that just “ticking the boxes” isn’t good enough, especially when it comes to complex yacht AV and IT systems. That’s why we go further. We test, check, validate, and double-check as per company standard because that’s what delivering reliability truly takes.

When we were invited to assess a superyacht of 86m, the systems looked clean on paper. But as we dug deeper, we uncovered a pattern that’s all too common in the yachting industry: small issues hiding in plain sight, each one insignificant on its own, but collectively capable of undermining day-to-day performance.

What We Found: The Trouble with “Technically Fine”

The problems aboard the yacht weren’t catastrophic. But they were everywhere.

• A mismatch of Cisco network hardware: 9000 series units trying to communicate with older 2000 series switches created subtle data flow bottlenecks and dropouts.
• The lighting system didn’t match documentation: LED strips and RGB fixtures had quietly replaced original bulbs, leaving control logic out of sync.
• Some speakers worked, some didn’t. Volume buttons were installed in the yacht but never registered in system documentation.
• System control code was layered with “dirty” programming patched over the years without proper cleanup or clarity.

Individually, these issues were manageable. But when stacked, they made the system feel unreliable, inconsistent, and difficult to maintain.

Why We Don’t Wait for Things to Break

In many refits, work is limited strictly to the official scope. If a fix isn’t requested, it doesn’t get touched. That’s not how we, ONEXP, work.

ONEXP practices validated design, a philosophy that insists on verifying every layer, even the ones no one thinks to question. We review unused sockets, mislabelled ports, forgotten volume controls, orphaned network devices, and legacy code buried in control systems. Not to inflate the invoice but because it’s the only way to be sure the system truly works.

Our Approach

1. Thorough testing

We mapped the actual, live systems, comparing reality against original documentation and uncovering years of undocumented crew fixes, last-minute hardware swaps, and makeshift patches.

2. Hardware & software diagnostics

We pinpointed the network bottleneck caused by buffer mismatches and logged every lighting and AV discrepancy, from mislabelled ports to swapped fixtures and rogue devices.

3. Proactive, holistic execution

Unlike vendors who stick rigidly to the contract, ONEXP fixed what needed fixing. If it impacted performance, we addressed it whether it was “on scope” or not. Our goal: a reliable, unified system, not just a checked-off to-do list.

The Outcome

1. No refitting surprises
Hidden issues were resolved early, avoiding costly refit-stage delays.

2. True system functionality
The yacht’s network, AV, and lighting systems now work together smoothly withno weak links or undocumented variables.

3. Client Peace of Mind
We delivered not just a working system, but one that’s fully documented and ready for future upgrades or service.

What That Means for You

Working with ONEXP means fewer surprises, fewer headaches, and a smoother handover. When we walk off the yacht, everything works and if something ever goes wrong later, you’ll have the documentation to trace it back. That’s peace of mind, delivered.

We don’t claim to be the cheapest. But we offer somethingjust as valuable: trust, transparency, and total system clarity.

Doing all of this from testing, checking, to validating isn’tan extra. It’s who we are. It’s how we define validated design. It’s why ourclients come back to us. And it’s how we make every project future-proof andfunctional from day one. Because for us, that’s the only way it should be done

‍