Bodrum guletinin gelişimi ve ustalığın değişen rolü
The evolution of the bodrum gulet and the changing role of the boatbuilders
Yazar: MEHMET TURGUT ÇIRPANLI
Danışman: PROF. DR. GÜLNAME TURAN
İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi / Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü / Endüstriyel Tasarım Ana Bilim Dalı / Endüstriyel Tasarım Bilim Dalı
Derece: Doktora, 2024
Konu: Endüstri Ürünleri Tasarımı = Industrial Design

Özet:
Bodrum Guleti, Türkiye sahillerine ait ikonik bir ahşap yelkenli teknedir. Sosyo-ekonomik ve kültürel öneme sahip guletler, "Mavi Yolculuk" olarak bilinen deniz turizmi faaliyetinin gizli kahramanı olarak da kabul edilebilir. 60 yıldan daha uzun bir süre önce, dönemin kültürel elitleri arasında başlamış olan bu özel faaliyet katılımcılara zengin deneyimler sunarken, sınırlı bir perspektifle de olsa akademik ve popüler yazının sürekli olarak araştırma konusu olmuştur. Popülerliği arttıkça, yurt dışından gelen turistler tarafından da çok yüksek düzeyde uluslararası ilgi görmüştür. Yerel yapım ahşap yelkenli teknelerle gerçekleştirilen bu yatçılık faaliyetinin istihdam yaratma ve döviz kazandırma açısından sosyo-ekonomik bağlamda büyük önemi vardır. Ayrıca, sosyo-kültürel bağlamda da Doğu Ege Türk Rivierası'nın tarihi ve doğal arka planında tatil için insanların bir araya getiren, değerli kültürlerarası etkileşimlere yol açan bir etkinlik olarak önem taşımaktadır.
Sosyo-ekonomik açıdan bakıldığında, 350.000 ila 500.000 kişinin faydalandığı bu hizmetin, sadece yat turizmi faaliyetlerinin cirosunun yıllık yaklaşık 250 milyon euro ekonomik büyüklüğe ulaştığı tahmin edilmektedir. Bu turizm faaliyeti, şu anda Bodrum, Marmaris ve Fethiye gibi Muğla ilinin büyük limanlarından yürütülmektedir. Deniz Ticaret Odası (DTO) verilerine göre, 2018 yılında 1571 "Yat – Gulet, vb." ve 2155 "Günübirlik Gezi Teknesi" dahil olmak üzere 3.500'den fazla tekne, Deniz Turizm Araçları olarak limanlarda kayıtlıydı (Deniz Turizmi, 2019). Nisan ve Ekim ayları arasındaki 6 ay süren turizm sezonunda, bu 3.500 turistik teknede 10.000'den fazla denizci çalışmaktadır. Ahşap zanaatkarlık için tersanelerdeki istihdamı, ayrıca tekneler limandayken temizlik, bakım ve lojistik hizmetleri sağlayan işçileri de göz önünde bulundurduğumuzda, yat turizmi on binlerce insana hizmet eden büyük bir ekonomik faaliyet olarak değerlendirilmektedir.
Bu perspektifte, Bodrum Guleti, geleneksel zanaatkarlık ve modern mühendisliğin benzersiz bir karışımını temsil eden, belirli bir iş faaliyetinde somutlaşmış çok özel bir örnektir. Bu evrim, daha geniş sosyo-ekonomik değişimleri ve gelenek ile yenilik arasındaki dinamik etkileşimi yansıtmaktadır. Bu çalışma, guletlerin tarihsel gelişimi, tekne yapımcısı ustaların mesleklerini icra ediş biçimlerine dair bilgi ve gulet turizminin sosyo-ekonomik etkisi hakkında geniş bir zaman dilimine ait bilgi sunmaktadır. Bu amaçla, tarihsel analiz, saha araştırması ve kişisel röportajlara dayanarak, guletin gelişimi ve ustaların evrilen rollerine dair kapsamlı bir perspektif sunulmaktadır. Araştırmada, Bodrum'da gulet üretiminin sürdürülebilir gelişimini sağlamak ve bu kültürel mirası korumak için geleneksel becerilerle modern gelişmeleri dengelemenin önemi vurgulanmaktadır.
Sosyo kültürel perspektiften incelendiğinde, Bodrum'da Mavi Yolculuğu mümkün kılan teknelerin özgün tasarımları öne çıkmaktadır. 1960 senesinde 10 bin nüfuslu bir kıyı kasabası olan Bodrum, Mavi Yolculuk kavramının popülerleşmesi ile bir cazibe merkezine dönüşür. Sürekli artan gezi teknesi talebi, ilk aşamada mevcut balıkçı ve sünger teknelerinin talebe hızlı cevap verebilmek amacıyla kısa sürede gezi teknelerine dönüştürülmesine sebep olmuştur. Bunu turizm için özel olarak tasarlanmış tekne geliştirme fikri takip etmiştir. Geliştirilen tekneler yeni ve konfor odaklı bir deniz turizmi anlayışının yayılmasına öncülük etmiştir. Araştırmada elde edilen bulgular, Türkiye'de amaçla inşa edilen Gulet tipi teknelerin gövde formunda 19yy'da İngiliz matematikçi John Scott Russell tarafından geliştirilmiş bir gemi inşa mühendisliği teorisi olan "Wave-Line Theory" nin izlerine işaret etmiştir. Araştırma, Guletlerin bu eski teori ile geliştirilen daha büyük gemiler olan Clipper'ların ve Briglerin küçültülmüş örnekleri olduğunu ileri sürmektedir. 
Yine araştırma kapsamında, tasarım ve denizcilik yazınımızda bir ilk olarak, Bodrum'da inşa edilen ve bugüne kadar inşa edilmiş binlerce turistik guletin atatipi olarak kabul edilebilecek, yelkenli turizm teknesi olması amacıyla inşa edilen ilk Gulet tipi teknenin tespiti yapılmıştır. 1967 yılında denize indirilen bu tasarım analiz edilmiş, bu modeli ortaya çıkaran ekonomik, teknolojik ve kültürel dinamikler irdelenmiştir. Geliştirilen bu ilk gulette Turizm Bakanlığı teşviklerinden faydalanıldığı bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. İlk modelin denize indirilmesinin ardından yaşanan 60 yıllık süreçte geliştirilen geliştirilen tüm gulet tipleri incelenmiş, bu tekneleri tasarlayan ve inşa eden ustaların zaman içinde gelişen koşullar karşısında değişen rollerini belirgin hale getirmek amaçlamıştır

Abstract:
The Bodrum Gulet, an iconic wooden sailing vessel from Turkey, holds significant socio-economic and cultural importance and can be considered as the hidden hero of a indigenous maritime tourism activity, namely "Mavi Yolculuk" or "The Blue Voyage". This particular activity which first started among the Turkish cultural elite of the time more than 60 years ago, provides participants with rich experiences and has been a continuous subject of research, albeit with a limited perspective. 
As it grew in popularity, it has simultaneously enjoyed a very high level of international interest by the tourists coming from abroad. The impact of chartered yachting activities carried out with predominantly locally built sailing wooden boats using local hardware, material and labor holds great significance in the socio-economic context in terms of creating employment and earnings in foreign currency. Additionally, it is also important in the socio-cultural context as it involves people coming together for a journey in a confined space, spending time together in the historical and natural background of the fascinating East Aegean Turkish Rivieara, leading to valuable inter-cultural exchanges.
From a socio-economic perspective it is estimated that yacht tourism sector, serving 350.000 to 500.000 people annualy, has reached an economic size of around 250 million euros annually. This tourism activity, also known as the "Blue Voyage," is currently conducted from major ports in Muğla province, such as Bodrum, Marmaris, and Fethiye. According to the Chamber of Shipping (DTO) data, in 2018, more than 3,500 boats, including 1571 "Yacht – Gulet, etc." and 2155 "Day Trip Boat," were registered in ports as Maritime Tourism Vehicles (Maritime Tourism, 2019). During the 6-month-long tourism season between April and October, more than 10,000 sailors work on these 3,500 tourist boats. Considering the employment in shipyards for wooden craftsmanship, as well as the workers providing services in cleaning, maintenance, and logistics while the boats are in the harbor, Yacht Tourism can easily be considered as an economic activity serving tens of thousands of people.
In this perspective, the Bodrum Gulet represents a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering, embodied in a specific business activity. Its evolution reflects broader socio-economic changes and the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation. This study provides valuable insights into the historical development of gulets, the changing role of craftsmen, and the socio-economic impact of gulet tourism. It underscores the importance of balancing traditional skills with modern advancements to preserve this cultural heritage and ensure the sustainable development of the gulet production in Bodrum.
This research also explores the evolution of these vessels, their socio-economic impact, and the changing role of craftsmanship over the years. To this end, it employs historical analysis, field research, and interviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of the gulet's development and the craftsmen's evolving roles.
Chapter 2 gives an outline of research methodology and research questions of this dissertation. It is widely accepted that gulet construction for tourism purposes first began in Bodrum in the late 60's and numbers of layed keels started to grow rapidly in early 1970s. However, there is a gap in the literature as to how and why gulet, as a unique form, has been developed. This research aims to contribute the literature answering following questions: Exactly how and when did the very first model appear, that has later become set the blueprint for the next thousand boats  built in Bodrum, creating a new industry? How has the Bodrum Gulet evolved in terms of design and usage due to economic policies and technological advancements? What role have craftsmen played in this evolution? What is the significance of gulets in the context of history of Turkish industrial design?
As outlined in this chapter, the research adopts a historical analysis approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. As for the former, drawing on data from Barbaros Yachting database containing information on 423 commercial gulets for charter, I have analyzed the business models giving birth to various types and examined the designs of all gulet types developed over 60 years. The study also aims to explore the changing roles of the masters who design and build these boats over time, considering the archive scans, field research, and face-to-face interviews conducted in Bodrum. For this purpose, I have conducted interviews with 25 experts, including craftsmen, captains, yacht designers, historians and tourism professionals. 
In Chapter 3, I examine the impacts of the socioeconomic transformations in the town of Bodrum on gulet production. Initially, Bodrum's economy was largely dependent on its natural resources. The town's isolated location limited its economic activities, making it heavily reliant on agriculture, sponge diving, and fishing. In understanding Bodrum, Fatma Mansur Coşar's 1972 book, "Bodrum, A Town in The Aegean" derived from a PhD thesis on sociology, provided a very deep and accurate insight into the life in that small town, during the mid 60's to early 70's. Her testimony of the life in Bodrum as a small, peaceful coastal town before the introduction of infrastructural developments and early tourism activities in the late 1950s has been of tremendous value in the completion of this research.
The changes that occured due to the introduction of infrastructural developments were first related with fishing activities: Larger boats have been built for blue water fishing activities, thanks to financial support systems initiated by the government. Following, newly starting tourism activities marked significant socio-economic transformations. With the completion of the breakwater investment and the introduction of regular foreign passenger ship services, Bodrum began its transformation into a tourist hub. The growing demand for excursion boats first led to the adoption and later to the conversion of existing sponge boats known as tirhandil and the newly built deep sea trawlers known as trata, into gulets. This period is followed by the development of gulets specifically designed for tourism, leading to the spread of a new, comfort-oriented maritime tourism culture. The unique designs and the blue voyage concept have made Bodrum a global tourist attraction. Gulets are thus not just economic assets; they are cultural symbols representing the region's maritime heritage. 
Chapter 4 examines the wooden yacht production traditions in Bodrum and the role of craftsmanship in this regard. The initial gulets were adaptations of small sponge boats, modified to meet the demands of shorter distance tourist excursions. The newly acquired knowledge of building larger wooden boats, known as trata and made for open sea fishing activities, has been extremely functional. The readily available know-how, craftsmen and frugal technical infrastructure to construct such large wooden vessels economically laid the foundation for the development of more sophisticated gulet designs. The higher stability characteristics of the hull and the aesthetics of the fantail stern of the tratas made all the difference in creating the phenomenon known today as the Bodrum Gulet. The boatbuilding craftsmen were available, eager and very competent. Easily adapting to the fine requirements of a new clientele coming from abroad, they become yachtbuilders in a short period of time. The flexibility of the business mind and technical ingenuity of the local craftsmen, mostly Turkish people of Crete who settled in Bodrum as a result of the  population exchange deal between Greece and Turkey of 1924, helped instate a new business with all the accompanying industrial activities such as sailmaking, furniture, upholstery and other services involved in a yacht charter business.
The study highlights the dynamic interplay between traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering in gulet construction. Craftsmanship played a crucial role in the evolution of gulets. The traditional craftsmanship involved in gulet construction was initially the domain of master craftsmen who passed down their skills through apprenticeships. These craftsmen employed traditional methods and tools to build gulets, ensuring the vessels' durability and functionality. 
However, as a result of changing boatbuilding regulations, the integration of engineering principles and modern techniques over time has transformed the role of craftsmen. Technological advancements and changing tourism dynamics also influenced gulet designs. The introduction of new materials, such as epoxy and modern construction techniques such as laminated fabrication improved the vessels' durability and functionality. Computer-aided design (CAD) further refined the design process, allowing for more precise design and efficient construction. This dynamic interplay between traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering has been crucial in the evolution of gulet production.
Chapter 5 explores the intricate world of traditional wooden boat design, specifically focusing on the iconic gulets found in the coastal regions of Greece and Turkey. These vessels, deeply rooted in local maritime culture, serve not only as functional modes of transportation but also as symbols of tradition and craftsmanship. One of the key insights offered is the classification of gulets into distinct hull types: Tirhandil, Gulet, and Aynakıç. Each type embodies unique characteristics shaped by centuries of maritime heritage and regional influences. For example, the Tirhandil is known for its double-ender shape which provides efficiency in construction, structural strength and agility, while the Gulet boasts a clipper bow, fantail stern and a gracious sheer line, comprising a longer hull, a broader beam and a faster hull design which altogether offer greater stability and spaciousness for elevated comfort.
The evolution of gulet design over time reflects a delicate balance between tradition and modernity. While traditional methods such as "forma çekme" continues to play a significant role in shaping hulls, the integration of modern CAD techniques has revolutionized the design process. These advancements allow for greater precision and efficiency in achieving optimal hull shapes while preserving the essence of traditional craftsmanship.
Moreover, this chapter sheds light on the impact of changing dynamics in tourism business on gulet construction. As demand for recreational cruising experiences grew, boatbuilders were increasingly tasked with balancing authenticity with commercial viability. This has led to innovations in design and in general arrangement layout and application of construction techniques aimed at enhancing comfort and luxury without compromising on the aesthetic and cultural integrity of gulets.
Beyond the traditional aspects of wooden boat design and construction, this chapter also explores the historical context in which shipbuilding practices took place. Concepts such as Wave-line theory, the mid 19th Century ship building theory by British mathematician and engineer John Scott Russell and early drafting and lofting techniques have been found to have affected the hull form of Gulet and Aynakıç types. This discovery offers valuable insights into the underlying principles that govern their hull design. By tracing the lineage of these practices, the text provides a new perspective that deepens our appreciation of the art and science of wooden boat craftsmanship.
Chapter 5 also includes the phenomenal discovery of the first commercial Gulet with the name "BOTAŞ", designed and built specifically for "Blue Voyage" tourism purposes in Turkey. As this chapter brings to light,  this boat was actually owned by Haşim Birkan and built by master Ziya Güvendiren. This first sailing Gulet is based on the trata fishing boat hull lines, with two masts in ketch configuration, a hard dodger (davlumbaz) and a comfortable aft deck passenger area, was completed in 1967. This chapter also highlights the findings that the construction of BOTAS was funded by the Ministry of Tourism.
In essence, this chapter serves as a comprehensive guide to the morphology and design of all types of gulets, offering a fascinating glimpse into a world where heritage and innovation converge on the open seas.
Chapter 6 evaluates the results of this study providing a data analysis. The research findings highlight several aspects: Gulets derive their strength in the tourism industry from the unique visual experience they offer, blending authenticity with modern technological developments. Their wooden structure and natural aesthetics contribute to their appeal, and their lower construction costs offer a competitive advantage.The role of craftsmen has evolved over time, adapting to changing market demands and technological advancements, particularly with the introduction of epoxy lamination techniques. Gulets hold significant value in Turkey's industrial design history, representing a unique product/service system developed with local resources and catering to both domestic and foreign markets, contributing to the country's tourism industry and economy.The evolution of gulets has been influenced by regional differences, particularly in craftsmanship traditions and customer preferences. Bodrum stands out as a hub for gulet construction, with craftsmen striving for excellence and innovation while preserving the traditional aesthetic.The analysis of gulet morphology reveals a diverse range of types, with certain boat types becoming more prevalent over time. This analysis also highlights the importance of correct hull form and superstructure combination in understanding and assessing the relationship between gulet design and business models, potentially providing a valuable guidance for inverstors, builders and researchers alike.  
As for conclusion, one of the challenges highlighted in the study is preserving traditional craftsmanship amidst technological advancements. The research calls for initiatives to maintain and promote traditional skills, ensuring the protection of the cultural heritage associated with gulet construction.The study emphasizes the need for sustainable tourism practices to protect Bodrum's natural and cultural resources. Sustainable gulet construction methods, along with responsible tourism practices, are essential for the long-term viability of the industry. Preserving traditional craftsmanship in the face of technological advancements is a significant challenge. The study calls for initiatives to maintain and promote traditional skills with the adoption of new apprenticeship schemes, ensuring the preservation of the cultural heritage associated with gulet construction. 
Overall, the study underscores the cultural and economic significance of gulets in Turkey's maritime heritage and tourism industry. Considering the role of the master craftsmen in the development and ongoing evolution of gulets, it is emphasizing their value as both a traditional vessel and a modern and sustainable tourist attraction.