A Bodrum cruise is idyllic for water lovers. Bodrum is probably the biggest gulet-producing place in Turkey. A fact that greatly boosts its economy. A Gulet has become the main requirement for the world-renowned Bodrum Cruise in the country. And because of that, Turkey’s tourism industry has highly improved. Making a gulet has become a tradition special to Bodrum. Ziya Guvendiren was the once-celebrated Bodrum’s master boatbuilder.

He has spent all his life working in Bodrum, making great gulets. Many of Bodrum’s native boatbuilders became his apprentices. He taught them all the skills required to build a gulet. Those same skills are then passed on to the next generations who will continue building the traditional boat of Bodrum, the gulet, and maybe one day will have their own boat yards.

This gulet is very suitable to passengers for them to be able to enjoy cruising the coves and inlets. This boat is suitable for sailing in all seas with its remarkable design and the craftsmanship of the ones who build it is visible all about the boat itself.

It takes about a year and a half to build just a single gulet. A gulet ready to sail sells for prices between $187,000 and $213,000. Why does a gulet cost this much? Aside from its magnificent design, the gulet is made up of wood; it could be a pine or a mulberry or maybe even a mahogany. The timber must be cut at full moon, and the finest woods are cut during the months of June, July, and August.

This boat can last over thirty years with proper maintenance. A life span of an asset this long is perfect for a business such as the Bodrum Cruises along Turkey’s magnificent southwest shore. This ideal-for-hire boat has comfortable cabins, broad beams, and spacious decks.

Today, the traditional wooden gulet has been improved and developed from the original functioning vessel to a pleasure craft which is very popular now. The procedures of making boats were improved due to technological developments wherein craftsmen are now able to employ.

Bodrum has been a significant boatbuilding area in Turkey since the fourth-century BC—the time of king Mausolous, Bodrum’s most famous resident. Even during the third-century BC, King Ptolemy of Egypt had his fleet built in Bodrum in the area where the present marina is occupying. More than thirty boat yards can be found in the Bodrum area and many more others on the surrounding peninsula.

Today’s Aegean and Mediterranean shores are famous locations where the traditional building of gulets can be found. Bodrum is the home of Turkey’s Aegean charter fleet, where the greatest number of boats and boat yards can be seen.

Many visitors and foreigners are fascinated by the great volumes of wooden yachts that can be found in almost every space available in the harbor of which are mostly constructed in Bodrum.

The gulet industry in Turkey is definitely a booming one. Every year tourists do not fail to visit Turkey and take on Blue Cruises. And as long as this continues, the gulet industry in Bodrum will never fall out of use.

To learn more about the cruises departing from Bodrum nearly every day follow this link Bodrum Cruise