Fethiye
Boat Yards & Gulet Holidays.
Fethiye
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Fethiye Marina PageHow
Did Fethiye Get It's Name?Fethiye
Historical Sites Page
If
you take a walk along the road which takes you around the bay past the
new Marina you will find yourself in a quiet area of Fethiye, where
the houses overlook the water, along with a couple of small hotels,
one with a good Turkish bath. A few boats are moored in the bay here
,this is also home to one of Fethiyes diving schools.
The main area of interest are the boat yards, here you can see boat
builders at work constructing wooden Gulets using traditional construction
methods and materials such as red pine, mahogany and iroko.
Gulet (A word derived from the Italian 'giulietta') is a motor sailing
vessel whose ancestors were the ancient cargo bearing craft which traded
from ports along the Turkish coast. The modern version, a much more
luxurious craft has gained popularity with holidaymakers looking for
that vacation with a difference, who wish to spend a couple of weeks
cruising the clear waters of Turkeys Mediterranean coast, exploring
the hidden inlets and unspoilt beaches at a relaxed leisurely pace.
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Accommodation
near Fethiye Marina
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The luxury wooden Gulets of today vary in length from 14 meters to over
35 meters in length with around 18 cabins, these are well fitted out
and usually fully air-condition.
The construction methods have changed very little in Turkey over the
centuries. The build time has been shortened and been made more efficient
with the use of modern power tools, but it can still take up to a year
and a half to complete one for these magnificent boats.
So if you are looking for a holiday with a difference why not try a
Gulet cruise, a refreshing change from the hotel. Gulet holidays are
available, sailing from ports throughout Turkey, including Fethiye and
Bodrum.
A
quiet area of Fethiye is home to the Boat Yards, about ten minutes walk
from Ece Marina
Construction.
The
boats construction starts with the laying of a keel, which is the foundation
for the rest of the build, this is usually made from one massive piece
of timber. At the rear of the vessel the stern post is then constructed
and then the stem post at the bow. The photographs below show how the
ribs are fitted, these are then clad with planks which area fastened
horizontally.
With good regular maintenance a Gulet can last well over thirty years.
During the winter most of these boats will be taken out of the water
to have their hulls scrubbed and painted for the next holiday season.
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Traditional
Gulet Construction
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Fethiye
Boat Yards
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