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New Gulet Construction

Charter Services | 03-03-2023


What is a Gulet? Gulet is a traditional two mast wooden sailing boat design originating from the southwest coast of Turkey.




A gulet is  a traditional design of a two-masted wooden sailing vessel from the south-west coast of Turkey, although similar vessels can be found all around the eastern Mediterranean now. Today this type of vessel, varying in size from 14 to 45 metres, is popular for both commercial and also private use, and sophisticated building techniques are used in construction for epoxy-coated laminated wooden or steel hulls. Over the years gulets have evolved from traditional fishing and cargo vessels into their present profile of a broad beam and wide deck. Constructed mainly in the shipyards of Bodrum, Marmaris, Bozburun, Fethiye, Antalya and Istanbul, and along the Black Sea Coast, the boats are equipped with diesel engines as well as fully functional rigging. The number of passengers a gulet carries depends on the boat’s size, although most of them accommodate between eight and twelve people.

 

The process of commissioning a custom built Turkish gulet starts with the choice of boatyard which  is the single most important factor determining the quality of the final product. Finding the boatyard best suited to one's needs is paramount. With our long experience in the field, we have the best resources to provide you with the valuable insight in this process.





Private or Commercial Use?

One of the most important decisions to be made by potential buyers is whether the gulet will be used privately or commercially. Yachts which will be used commercially either in Turkish or EU waters have a different set of requirements which must be implemented during the building phase to qualify as a commercial vessel and to avoid expensive refits.

 

Yacht size

The average length of gulets built in the 1970s was ten meters, in the 1980s twenty meters, and in the 1990s thirty-meter boats were the norm. Bodrum boatyards are currently building vessels 40 meters and longer, at which point they may be better deemed "ships". While most prospective buyers have an idea of what size boat they wish to build, it remains important to check that the boatyard chosen has the facilities to accommodate the desired size, as well as previous experience with similar designs.

 

Timing, Scheduling & Delivery

One of the biggest dilemmas facing any boatyard is that of time. An excellent boat absolutely cannot be rushed.





Types of Wood & Traditional Construction

While there are many types of wood suitable for the construction of wooden boats, gulets   have traditionally been made of pine, African mahogany and Iroko (West African Teak). In recent years, epoxy laminate (mahogany) has been the building process of choice by most builders for strength and durability.

 

Steel Gulets

New techniques have allowed for excellent results with building steel-hulled gulets in Bodrum. The largest steel gulet built to date is 50 meters long, though there are only two boatyards specializing in steel constructioin in Bodrum.

 

Epoxy Laminate Gulet Construction

Epoxy laminate construction has been the choice in recent years for gulet construction due to durability. Up to 7 layers of alternating mahogany veneer create an extremely strong hull for modern gulets.

 

Certification

Another decision which the buyer needs to make is that of certification. The type of certification will depend on whether the yacht will be exported for commercial or private use outside of Turkey and for future resale value. Turkish Lloyds, R.I.N.A. and U.K. Lloyds specifications for either the hull or the entire yacht can be applied in selected boatyards.

 

What will it cost?

Depending on the factors above and the electronic and other equipment that is desired, a wooden boat can be expected to cost between 300,000 EURO and 6,000,000 EURO with a delivery time between 12 and 24 months.

 

Custom Quotation

If you would like an estimate for a custom built gulet, please contact us with your requirements, including type of construction, size, number of cabins and whether you intend to use the yacht for private or commercial reasons. We will return to you with the approximate costs and delivery time.


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