From the iconic Turkish gulet to the classic New England lobster boat, this guide covers every major wooden vessel type — rig, hull form, purpose, and market. Use the filters to navigate by category.
The iconic Turkish wooden yacht — a broad-beamed, two-masted ketch originating from the Bodrum and Marmaris coast. Wide decks, round stern (klasik) or square stern (ayna kıç), and deep-draft comfort hull. The dominant vessel type in Turkish charter and private ownership.
One of Turkey's oldest traditional boat types. Double-ended hull with both bow and stern coming to a point — the tirhandil is a pure sailor, long and elegant. Rarely built today but deeply admired. Found primarily in Aegean waters.
A broad-beamed traditional Turkish working boat, often brightly painted with high bows. Historically used for fishing and cargo along the Bosphorus and Aegean coasts. Now built as charming private craft, some with small accommodation below.
Two masts where the mizzen (aft) mast is forward of the rudder post — distinguishing it from a yawl. The ketch rig divides sail area into manageable sections, making it excellent for bluewater passage-making. Highly versatile and popular for larger custom builds.
The most common modern sailing rig — a single mast with mainsail and headsail (jib or genoa). Simple, efficient, and easy to sail short-handed. The Bermuda sloop is the default rig for production yachts. Suitable from small day-sailors to large ocean racers.
Two or more masts where the foremast is shorter than the main mast — the reverse of a ketch. The schooner excels off the wind and carries large sail area with elegance. Associated with New England fishing tradition and clipper-era romance. Increasingly popular for prestige custom builds.
Similar to a ketch but the small mizzen mast sits aft of the rudder post. The mizzen is smaller and primarily used for balance and self-steering rather than drive. Popular in traditional offshore racing. The mizzen staysail adds useful power on reaches.
A single-masted vessel with the mast set further aft than a sloop, allowing two headsails — typically a staysail and a jib. The cutter rig offers flexibility in varying conditions and is a favourite for bluewater cruisers who want versatility without a second mast.
Two parallel hulls connected by a bridgedeck. Catamarans offer exceptional stability, enormous living space relative to length, and shallow draft. Charter-friendly and fast off the wind. Wooden catamaran commissions are rare but exceptional — cold-moulded construction is the preferred method.
Three hulls — a main central hull with two outer floats (amas). Trimarans are among the fastest sailing vessels afloat, combining stability with extreme light-air performance. Complex to build in wood but achievable in cold-moulded construction. Specialist appeal.
Combines a powerful engine with a meaningful sail rig. Unlike a gulet (which is effectively a motor-sailer), the pure motor-sailer emphasises equal capability under sail or power. Ideal for owners who want sailing pleasure with the reliability of a motor vessel. Popular in Mediterranean blue-water cruising.
A displacement or semi-displacement motor yacht built entirely in wood. Turkish yards produce outstanding wooden motor yachts — typically mahogany or iroko over grown frames, teak decks, and traditional joinery. Often commissioned by owners who want the warmth and character of wood without sails.
The lobster boat — evolved from New England working vessels — has been adopted as a yacht in its own right. High bow, low stern, full wheelhouse forward, open working deck aft. Practical, seaworthy, and ruggedly handsome. The "trawler yacht" concept extends this into long-range blue-water cruising.
The quintessential pre-war wooden speedboat — mahogany lapstrake or carvel planking, chrome fittings, deep V-hull, and a powerful inboard engine. Associated with Chris-Craft, Riva, and Hacker-Craft. These are the most collectible wooden boats in the world, commanding extraordinary prices at auction.
Pre-1980 wooden yachts of distinction — gaff-rigged cutters, long-keeled ocean cruisers, racing yachts from the golden age of sail. These vessels represent the highest expression of the boatbuilder's art. Restoration is the primary market; survey before purchase is non-negotiable.
The smallest category of sailing vessel — typically 2.4m to 7m, unballasted, open-hulled. The foundation of sailing skills for generations. Wooden dinghies — International 14, Firefly, Merlin Rocket — are collector pieces, built in mahogany plywood or cold-moulded construction.