70' Bodrum Gulet for Extended Cruising ?

[wildharvest]

Hi everyone,

While I’m not yet cruising I’ve spent many hours browsing your great site! Really helpful. I've every intention of packing up the family and heading north one day (we're in NZ), but it looks like my brother and long time sailing buddy has beat me too it.

He has just had the opportunity to assess his priorities (divorce!) and has sold up his house and restaurant businesses. He's now planning to buy a boat and spend a good 2-3 years cruising (Primarily Pacific / Asia but intends to circumnavigate though both canals). He has a good travelling mate who is putting up some funds and sharing the expenses. They will both have a passive income while cruising. They are both social characters so will no doubt fill the boat with other nutters along the way.

Anyway, back to the point. He has looked at a heaps of different styles and was initially planning on a 40ish foot cat (having sailed cats extensively), however he has come across a couple of Turkish Gulet's around the 70' mark.

Has anyone had any experience with these vessels, especially in regard to their seaworthiness and handling under sail. They are obviously motor sailers but does anyone now if they can hold their own under sail? He (and i) has plenty of experience working on wooden boats (Tallships) so are comfortable with the ongoing maintenance side of things.

It is similar to this. http://www.thinkyachts.com/listing891/bodrum-gulet-21m-yacht/

Any other relevant advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Shaun

[CharlieCobra]

They don't sail well, hence the reason you always here an engine running aboard one...

[Butler]

Don't waste your money.
From everything I've read and heard these are not particularly well designed or built.
I believe there is mention of these in another older thread.

[SaucySailoress]

A couple of old threads you might want to look at:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...let-37580.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...deal-8138.html

Good luck with your research - be sure to let us know what the outcome is!

[GordMay]

And see ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ats-23574.html

[beneteau-500]

unless you have a endless money pit dont bother as the maintenance is endless on these and they sail like pigs and if you went to turkey i bet you will never see one with the sails up unless the engine has broken down