* Why Gulets are special

A gulet is a beautiful wooden sailing motor yacht, with the superb lines and look of past eras under sail. They are built to give a complete leisurely, comfortable, and relaxing holiday afloat for small groups from 2-16, with privacy and informality, and with total crew service to take any daily decisions out of your hands.

The cruising waters are along some beautiful stretches of coast, sheltered,with crystal clear waters. The boat can moor far from civilisation or close to towns and entertainment. The mixture makes for a unique and very special holiday.

* What are they

Gulets are wooden, now often laminate built boats made in a style true to the boatbuilding traditions of the SW Turkey. Designed to have wide deckspace for leisurely sunbathing, al fresco dining and sociable party hours, they also have comfortable to luxurious interiors with an indoor dining / salon/TV viewing area, and cabins for 2 or 3 people, in doubles, twins, and sometimes triples all with ensuite bathrooms.

There often is a master cabin for the group leaders or boat owners. The boat also has crew quarters as it comes fully staffed with crew of Captain and seamen who sail the boat and give full drinks and food service.



* How they made

The boats are handmade from pine, mulberry, oak and teak, or mahogany laminate, by third or fourth generation master craftsman who have been building hand shaped wooden boats for close to 100 years.

They first built working no-frills boats for fishing and spongediving, but when the first tourists came and wanted to swim in the sea from boats and explore the untouched coast, the boat designs evolved to allow for leisure and comfort. Now the younger generation designers are building superbly equipped modern motoring and sailing yachts with the traditional style and grace of the old.

* Where they made

Set right on the seashore, local boatyards in Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye areas, and now Antalya, are constructing boats using modern design techniques and traditional methods, and using traditional wood and modern materials for the exteriors and interiors.

International interest is growing in owning gulets with some ordered or bought and taken to other international cruising waters.