In Turkey, refit work concentrates where there is capacity to haul the boat and a network of tradesmen around it. The travel lift capacities below come, with their sources, from the marina directory; for shipyard regions see the shipyard map.
Last checked: September 2026. Capacities can change; send the marina the boat's weight and beam in writing before booking.
Regions
- Istanbul
- The Tuzla shipyards and marinas; 500 t travel lift at Güzelce Marina, 160 t at Kıyı İstanbul. Yard infrastructure for major refits.
- Didim
- 400 t and 75 t travel lifts and large hardstanding at D-Marin Didim; sheds for winter work.
- Bodrum peninsula
- 260 t and 100 t at Yalıkavak Marina, 100 t at D-Marin Turgutreis; wooden boat skills are also common in the area.
- Marmaris
- 330 t and 70 t travel lifts and large hardstanding at Marmaris Yat Marin; the region's main lifting capacity.
- Göcek
- 200 t and 75 t at Marintürk Göcek, 75 t at D-Marin Göcek.
- Antalya
- 200 t travel lift at Setur Antalya Marina; shipyard infrastructure in the free zone.
Choosing where to refit
- Lifting capacity. The boat's weight and beam.
- Covered space. A shed for paint and lamination.
- Trades. Engine, electrical, laminating and joinery nearby.
- Logistics. Parts supply and the owner's travel.
- Supervision. Being on site at check points.
The boat's location decides
The first question in choosing a refit region is where the boat spends the season and where it returns after the refit. A more suitable yard in a distant region can lose its advantage once delivery cost and time are added. On the other hand, some work can only be done with enough capacity and skill in certain regions; delivery is then planned as part of the job.
Capacity and facilities
The boat's weight and beam directly decide which facilities can be used. Large motor yachts need high-capacity travel lifts or lifting docks; in some regions that capacity exists at only a few sites. The need for an enclosed shed, especially for painting and laminating, also affects the choice.
Trades and workshops
Each region's strengths differ: wooden-boat craft, composite repair, engine service, rigging or electrics. Whether the needed skills exist locally is researched before choosing a yard; tradesmen from different regions can work on the same job if needed.
Following the work
Being able to follow the refit on site is a factor often overlooked. If the owner is far away, check points are followed through photo reports and an independent inspector.
With lay-up
Refits are often combined with lay-up; then the region's winter conditions, shed occupancy and storage time are weighed too.
Data
Marina capacity figures are in the marina directory with sources; current status is confirmed with the facilities themselves before choosing.
Visiting first
A short visit to the shortlisted yards, ideally while other refits are under way, shows how work is organised better than any brochure.
Quotes
Quotes from yards in different regions are compared on the same specification, with delivery costs added, so the comparison is fair.
A clear specification is what makes quotes from different regions truly comparable.
Without one, each yard prices the job as it understands it, and differences between quotes come from scope rather than price.
So the specification is prepared before choosing a region, and sent in the same form to every yard.
That discipline is what makes the final choice sound.