[See our travel pages for more information:
http://travel.to/sunholiday ]

x0x Bound for blue voyages

By Ugur G. Yalciner and Veysel Cingoz

Blue Voyages along the spectacularly beautiful southwest coast of
Turkey are summer dreams shared with the blue sea, green shores and
star-filled night sky. Your boat is both friend and home during those
magical days of long lazy conversations, delicious food, restful sleep
and happy memories. We decided to trace the story of these boats and
visited Recep Sokmen's boatyard in Fethiye. Here we found boats of
different sizes at every stage of construction; some as yet only a
keel, others a skeletal frame, and still others awaiting the finishing
touches. Five or six young men between 15 and 25 years of age were
working under the supervision of Recep Sokmen in the shade of a
lean-to roof.

They were busy with saws, planes and other woodworking tools, and at
first we could not understand how a handful of youths working with
these simple tools could produce goulettes, ketches, tIrhandils
(fishing boats with both sails and oars) and motor yachts of up to 36
m in length. But when we listened to Recep's instructions we
discovered how the mastr'se experience of many years enabled difficult
and precise work to be carried out according to a simple logic, and
saw that each of the young men was a skilled craftsman.

On one side of the boatyard, resting on thick logs, was an enormous
U-section metal bar between 15-25 m long and 25-35 cm wide. This was a
ballast keel, which gives stability to the finished boat. It is bolted
to the keel, the lower half of which lies inside the ballast keel,
over a layer of concrete and pitch. The rectangular keel is made of
durable wood such as mulberry, pine and chestnut. This is the backbone
of the unique Blue Voyage boats which ply their way in and out of the
coves and inlets of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Lateral loads
are carried by the curving ribs which form the hull and again are made
of mulberry, pine or chestnut depending on the size of the boat and
the preference of the master builder. The ribs form the shape of the
hull, and are set at intervals of 17-22 cm. Each pair of ribs is a
single member in a broad 'U' shape, bolted at the base to the keel.

The ballast keel, keel and ribs are the most important loadbearing
parts of the boat, and must be made of durable materials, since
replacing these if they are damaged is extremely difficult. Now it is
time to build the outer shell from planks of wood such as pine,
mahogany or teak. Each plank is 3-4 m in length, 4-10 cm wide and 2-4
cm thick. These are nailed horizontally to the ribs, each plank
tightly fitted against the next and either nailed or glued together.

If glue is not used the planks are later caulked, a process which
consists of forcing finger-thick greased cotton fibre into the seams
to make them watertight. The boat is now capable of floating, but lots
of work remains to be done.

Tanks, plumbing, engine, gearbox, propeller shaft, and electric wiring
must be installed, and if desired sails and rigging, generator,
air-conditioning and other optional features. Finally it is time for
the interior fittings and decoration of the cabins, showers and
lavatories, galley and other living quarters. Making maximum use of
minimum space is essential for every boat, and each area is therefore
designed individually. Last of all is the job of painting and
varnishing, and the boat is ready for launching. It is placed on the
slipway and hauled stern foremost into the sea using steel cables.

Once afloat the masts made of steel sheeting, aluminium or wood are
fitted, and attached to the sides by steel cables that are stretched
tight by means of lifting screws. The mast height never exceeds the
length of the hull.

Once accessories like fenders, lamps, lanterns, sails, ladders, tables
and chairs are in place the boat is ready for years of seafaring. The
engine is started, the ropes are untied, and yet another boat is off
on its maiden voyage.

* Ugur G. Yalciner and Veysel Cingoz are freelance writers.