Yacht Survey & Delivery
Istanbul, Turkey
Buying at Ataköy, Pendik, Kalamış or a Tuzla yard? Bosphorus current, Marmara water and heavy winter use leave their own marks; we measure them on site and report in English within 2-3 working days.
The Bosphorus Takes a Toll on Every Boat
Istanbul sits at the crossroads of two seas. The Bosphorus current, Marmara's brackish water, and harsh winters create a unique set of challenges that boats in the Aegean rarely face. Shaft and propeller wear from strong currents, galvanic corrosion from mixed-salinity water, and freeze-thaw damage to deck fittings are common, and none are visible during a dockside walkthrough.
We survey across Ataköy Marina, Pendik Marina, Kalamış, and the Tuzla shipyard district. The patterns we see in Istanbul are distinct from the Aegean: more mechanical wear from current-heavy mooring, more corrosion from industrial harbour water, and more collision damage from dense Bosphorus traffic.
An independent survey carried out to ABYC standards documents every system with photographs and clear priorities, giving you the evidence to negotiate fairly or to walk away with confidence.
Findings are written exactly as found, whoever commissions the survey; the report belongs to the client and is not shared without their written instruction.
Calculate Your Survey or Delivery Cost
Get a ballpark in 30 seconds. A formal written quote follows on WhatsApp.
Surveying in Istanbul: marinas, haul-out and local points
In Istanbul, boats live with Marmara winters: cold, lodos and poyraz. On boats wintering afloat, deck leaks, condensation inside and corroded electrical connections are common.
Where boats are hauled
| Marina | Travel lift | Dry storage |
|---|---|---|
| Güzelce Marina | 500 t | 120 boats |
| Kıyı İstanbul Marina | 160 t | 100 boats (11,200 m²) |
| Ataköy Marina | 63 t; 10 t mobile crane | 100 boats |
| West İstanbul Marina | Yes; sources differ between 75 t and 700 t, confirm with the marina | 300 boats |
| Setur Kalamış ve Fenerbahçe | Yes | 220 boats |
Capacities as of September 2026. Send the marina the boat's weight and beam in writing before booking. All marinas are in the marina and boatyard directory.
What we look at closely here
Boats are often surveyed before a delivery to the Aegean or the Mediterranean; the survey and the pre-delivery technical check can then be combined in one plan.
Planning
The area has marinas with large travel lift capacity. The travel charge is €180. Delivery distances and fees are in the route table.
Harbours that take yachts
| Harbour | Depth | Berthing and facilities | For yachts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tekirdağ harbour (Merkez) | 3-5 m | At the eastern entrance of the city; about 200 boats. Anchor and go stern-to or alongside. A harbour of refuge and supply. | Draught up to about 2.5 m; yachts go stern-to on anchor. |
Only harbours that take yachts are listed; places suited only to small boats are left out. The draught limit allows about half a metre under the keel at the shallowest berth; a length limit is given where the source states one. Space varies by season, so call the harbour operator before arriving, especially in summer. The afloat parts of a survey can be done in these harbours; the underwater hull needs a separate haul-out.
Service, parts and logistics
Trades and service
The Tuzla shipyard zone and the technical areas of İstanbul's marinas offer a wide network of engine, electrical, paint, stainless, sail and upholstery trades. General jobs such as machining, welding, hydraulic hoses and upholstery can be done in the city's industrial area.
Parts, materials and accessories
Many engine and equipment brands have their Turkish representatives in İstanbul; parts and chandlery are usually available in the city, and anything missing is imported.
Travel and logistics
İstanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen make travel easy for buyers and parts from abroad. İstanbul is Turkey’s largest yacht service and parts market; almost any part and expertise is found in the same city, quickly. Tuzla and around is heavily used for haul-out.
Repair planning
If you want a recommendation for repairing a finding, we can suggest trades; the work is invoiced directly to you, and we never sell repairs on a boat we surveyed. If a repair depends on parts, the lead time is added to the haul-out and delivery schedule.
Survey fees in Istanbul (2026)
The survey fee follows our calculator: length in feet × €22.50, multiplied by the type and age factors; for Istanbul a travel charge of €180 is included. Figures for boats 6-15 years old, sea trial included, excluding VAT:
| Length | Sailing yacht | Motor yacht | Catamaran |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ft | €900 | €1,150 | €1,350 |
| 35 ft | €1,050 | €1,300 | €1,550 |
| 40 ft | €1,150 | €1,450 | €1,750 |
| 45 ft | €1,300 | €1,650 | €1,950 |
| 50 ft | €1,400 | €1,800 | €2,150 |
For your own boat: survey cost calculator. Delivery distances and fees from Istanbul: route table below.
Surveys nearby: Yalova · Bursa
Related guides: Passage planner · Coastal map · Cape passage board · Sea conditions · Routes and departure timing · Provisions, water and fuel calculator · Fuel stops · Safe anchorages · Harbours
Everything You Need to Know
About Buying a Yacht in Turkey
The main haul-out facilities in the area: Güzelce Marina (500 t); Kıyı İstanbul Marina (160 t); Ataköy Marina (63 t; 10 t mobile crane); West İstanbul Marina (Yes; sources differ between 75 t and 700 t, confirm with the marina); Setur Kalamış ve Fenerbahçe (Yes). Capacities as of September 2026; the boat's weight and beam are sent to the marina in writing before booking.
The travel charge is €180, shown as a separate line in the quote. For moisture readings the boat should dry ashore for at least a week; the report is delivered in 2-3 working days.
For a boat heading to the Aegean or the Mediterranean we plan the survey together with the pre-delivery check, so engine, rig and safety gear are reviewed in one visit before the long passage.
Ready to Survey Your Boat in Istanbul?
Güzelce Marina, Kıyı İstanbul Marina, Ataköy Marina: we book the haul-out slot and plan the drying time and sea trial with you; we reply as soon as we can.
Calculator results are estimates, not binding offers. Only the written quote given before work starts is binding. See Terms of Service.
Scope: The survey is non-destructive and nothing is dismantled; details on the survey types page.
Tuzla shipyard area: refit, new build and survey
Around Tuzla we mainly see three kinds of yacht work:
- New builds: steel and aluminium motor yachts and boats suited to commercial use.
- Refits: hull and paint, repowers, system renewals and interior refits.
- Sales: boats lying in Marmara marinas or put up for sale at the yard.
Facilities such as Viaport Marina (Tuzla) and the marina at Pendik offer haul-out and storage. For other Istanbul marinas see Istanbul yacht survey.
An independent eye on the owner's side of yard work is most useful at the start, not the end. Checkpoints are written into the contract, each stage gets a measured, photographed report, and payments are tied to those checkpoints.
- Material acceptance and certificates.
- Welding and lamination checks; welding inspection where needed.
- System installations to standard.
- Launch, sea trial and handover file.
More: refit consultancy and new-build supervision.
Delivery from Tuzla down to Fethiye
We deliver finished boats via the Marmara and the Dardanelles to their home port anywhere between Istanbul and Fethiye, with a skipper. Common routes: Istanbul - Bodrum and Istanbul - Göcek. On a boat fresh from the yard the first long passage is also a sea trial; anything seen on the way goes into the handover report.
Delivery distances and fees from Istanbul (2026)
| Route | Distance | Non-stop | Overnight stops | Sailing yacht 40 ft | Motor yacht 40 ft (fuel extra) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul → Ayvalık | 204 NM | 2 days | 5 days | €1,100 + VAT | €550 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Çeşme | 250 NM | 3 days | 6 days | €1,400 + VAT | €550 + VAT |
| Istanbul → İzmir | 265 NM | 3 days | 6 days | €1,400 + VAT | €550 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Teos (Seferihisar) | 286 NM | 3 days | 6 days | €1,700 + VAT | €550 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Kuşadası | 306 NM | 3 days | 7 days | €1,700 + VAT | €850 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Didim | 334 NM | 3 days | 7 days | €1,700 + VAT | €850 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Bodrum | 360 NM | 3 days | 8 days | €1,950 + VAT | €850 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Marmaris | 428 NM | 4 days | 9 days | €2,250 + VAT | €850 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Fethiye | 453 NM | 4 days | 10 days | €2,500 + VAT | €1,100 + VAT |
| Istanbul → Göcek | 454 NM | 4 days | 10 days | €2,500 + VAT | €1,100 + VAT |
Departure: Istanbul - Ataköy; 40 ft with skipper, April-October, excluding VAT, fuel, provisions and marina fees (November-March +20%). Days assume about 5 knots: some 120 NM a day non-stop, about 48 NM with overnight stops. Other boats and dates: delivery calculator; more legs: delivery routes.
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📋 Survey Request FormWhat the Survey Report Contains
See what the report contains, section by section, with finding structure and measurement tables.
⬇ See Report Contents (PDF)