Gulets are traditional wooden motor-sailers originating in Turkey, with broad beams, full displacement hulls, and a characteristic raised deckhouse providing interior headroom and a shaded aft deck. Originally used as working cargo and fishing vessels along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, gulets have been adapted since the mid-20th century for leisure charter and private cruising.
Modern gulets range from approximately 15 to 40 metres. Despite carrying two or three masts with sails, most gulets cruise primarily under engine power — the sails are used opportunistically when wind conditions are favourable but are rarely the primary means of propulsion. The wide beam and full hull form deliver stability and interior volume: large saloons, multiple en-suite cabins, and a generous aft deck for dining and sunbathing are standard. Speed is modest — 7–10 knots under power — and the design is optimised for comfort at anchor and in harbours rather than for passage-making performance.
Hulls are built from hardwood, traditionally Turkish mahogany or teak, using carvel or cold-moulded construction. Gulet building is concentrated along the Turkish Aegean coast, particularly around Bodrum and Marmaris, where the craft tradition and specialist boatbuilding infrastructure are established. Propulsion is a single or twin inboard diesel with shaft drive. Most gulets in commercial charter service operate in Turkish, Greek, and Croatian waters, typically in the May–October season.
