Marmaris - Docking
Anchoring
The large curved Marmaris Bay provides a large anchorage with a long sandy beach. With the prevailing wind being from the west, the NW side of the bay provides the most comfortable spot. It is good holding if you penetrate the weed and dig into the sand below.
A good alternative can be found in the small bay of Ciftlik, behind the rock island Ciftlik Adasi (about 8NM SSE of Marmaris). Either anchor (weed/sand bottom), or tie up to one of the many (5+) restaurant jetties. On entering the bay there are likely to be several different hosts waving their flag to attract your attention to their jetty. Many provide water, electricity, and showers too. If you need to go to Marmaris for supplies, parts etc., there is a good minibus service there and back twice per day from Ciftlik. A very scenic trip, and very reasonably priced.
Turgut (just outside the gap of Marmaris Bay) is reported to have crystal clear water and the facilities ashore are very welcoming.
Sea beds along Turkey’s coast and bays are not all the same. Some are grass and hard to hold even if the anchor is properly set. Other sea beds are sand and mud. There are also sunken boats! In the main, take note of where the gulets (Turkey’s traditional wooden-hull boats) anchor or do not anchor.
Marinas:
There are several marinas to choose from in Marmaris Bay, as well as the option to anchor. Most provide laundry, Wi-Fi, mini-market, ATM, yacht club, restaurant and
boatyard with travel hoists. Some have swimming pools (i.e. Netsel and
Yat marinas).
Over the last few years, prices have increased. It is wise to contact several marinas before deciding where to haul out or berth long term (“deals” may be offered by some marinas.)
Most marina staff speak English, Russian and German.
Last updated: March 2021
Waste Disposal:
See Restrictions for details on disposal of black and grey water in Turkey.
Pump outs can be done at the fuel dock in Netsel Marina and at Yat Marina.
For pump out in Marmaris call Turmepa at 0539 437 4430 one day in advance and tell them the bay you are in. They will come to pump out your holding tank(s). Winter pump-outs, are not offered by the Turmepa boat, nor is the pump out “trolley” in Netsel Marina in use. Instead, for Marmaris Bay, the man at Netsel who operates the fuel dock, “B” dock, during the winter until May, also pumps out grey/ black water tanks.
Note: Turkey takes conservation and a healthy ecology seriously. Therefore:
1. Pump outs can be done at the fuel dock in Netsel Marina and at Yat Marina.
2. Throw absolutely nothing in the sea or bay or fresh water sources.
3. Do not carry out any repairs or work on yachts involving GPR, varnish etc. while your boat is in the water. All such work is performed on the hard.
4. Dispose of old oil, batteries, scrap, boat waste etc. in bins provided.
5. The forested hills surrounding Marmaris are, in some years, susceptible to fire so personal BBQs are prohibited aboard boats. If you would like to BBQ, the marina will set it up on land for you.
Last updated: April 2022
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Yacht Clubs
Related to following destinations: Aegean Sea, Marmaris, Turkey
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Turkey
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
We visited Netsel Marina 5 years ago and had a pleasant stay. We returned this month and were shocked by the berth charges – 45,000TL for 5 nights(that’s 242Euro or 262USD per night). It’s a nice, well maintained marina but it’s no nicer or better maintained than dozens of other marinas we’ve berthed at. Our boat is 13m / 42ft LOA. Marina prices in Turkey have gone massively up. After Netsel we went to Fetiye Ece marina and that was 4200TL per night. Less than half of Netsel but hardly a bargain.
Thanks so much for this feedback from Turkey. This is what we expected having heard rumours of ever-increasing prices in Turkey. Please do keep posting as you cruise the coast (if you stay?) – all feedback very welcome.
It appears that Yat Marina’s marina license has been cancelled by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Due to the legislation, foreign flagged yachts are not allowed to be left in the Marina if the marina has no license. See https://cruisingtips.net/mbc/?p=11024 for more details.The 2 marinas in Marmaris that have a marina license are Albatros Marina (http://www.albatrosmarina.com) and Marmaris Netsel Marina (http://www.seturmarinas.com).
Reported by Jan Harzem, 09/10/2018
Obtaining quotes and getting work done in Turkey
When moored in Marmaris Yacht Marine, I tried to get quotes for work I wanted to get done:
– paint of freeboard
– lift of keel and re caulk
– new Bimini
– some sail repair
– Volvo Penta scheduled maintenance
My experience in getting pricing has been terrible. What quotes I got were in Euro, and about par with pricing in the South of France. Only when I told them what I was prepared to pay for the work, ie giving them a target price, did I get some reasonable responses, although once the Marina is involved (for mast lifting etc.) all bets are off. Lifting mast and put back for Euro 1200.
All contractors have to pay a commission of 17% for work done in the Marina to the Marina operator.
Chandleries in town is brilliant, well stocked, pricing in Turkish Lira and very reasonable and loads of choice. Any s/s work, turning work, upholstery in town is excellent value, but you will have to go to them. Bow roller turned in Delrin for 10mm anchor chain, two for TL (Turkish Lira) 80, approx Euro 10.2.
I will be leaving for other shores, as this confirms what a lot of other cruisers told me, the ones left in Turkey pay for all the ones that have already left.
Jan Harzem
s/y Akasha
Reported by Jan Harzem, 09/10/2018
Clearing into Marmaris from Greece
I arrived from Rhodes having emailed Marmaris Yacht Marine with questions about the check in procedure, but no response with regard to this issue.
When trying to moor in the Marina, as I was flying the Q-Flag, the “Marineros” advised me that I needed to go to Marmaris town, but were not very specific as to where.
In Marmaris town there is a very small pontoon between the Coastguard station and where the ferries to Greece tie up. You will get help mooring.
Check in can only be done through an agent, which the customs/police will call for you. The procedure once the agent arrives is painless, requires ships papers, insurance certificate, skippers licence and passport and costs for a 13m yacht Euro 170 (80 of this for the agent, 10 for the privilege of mooring at their pontoon for the duration of clearing in and 80 for the transit log).
Checking out apparently costs around Euro 80. No quick trips between Greece and Turkey then!
Jan Harzem
s/y Akasha
Good news for French-speaking sailors. Cecile Beal at Nokta Yachting provides yacht services, including clearance. Mob. : +90 (0) 533 342 45 70. e-mail: info@nokta-yachting.com website: http://www.nokta-yachting.com. She speaks also fluent English and Turkish.
I signed a boat care contract with Phoenix Yacht Management who have a base in the Netsel Yacht Marina. Under the written stipulation of the contract, the boat’s engine would be started and run weekly, the boat would be washed weekly and aired out. When I picked up my 13 M sailboat, the engine hours read exactly the same as when the contract was signed. All the hatches were stuck shut from debris. And Phoenix had splashed men’s cologne all over the boat to spiff it up. When confronted with the hard evidence of neglecting my boat, Phoenix ignored my request for a return of funds. There are great contractors at Marmaris Yacht Marina.
I naively stayed at Netsel for a week having my newly purchased boat hauled and systems installed. I needed hospitalization when I was handed the bill. When I took the boat out for a day sail to test the installations, the ‘courtesy’ RIB chased me across the bay insisting I return and settle my bill. I had a slip – just wanted to test the systems. I offered to give them my credit card. No deal. Return, dock, walk 1km to the office, pay, then I could sail.
I discovered Marmaris Yacht Marina with fair prices and good workmanship soon after.
Report from Marmaris long-term liveaboard Gwen Bylund:
Tourism here (and that’s the yachting industry included) is down 80%. Most people are usually out sailing now, to return end of this month to go home to the UK or wherever to beat the heat… but…Marmaris tourism is bad. Hotels are closing down. It’s like we’ve reverted back to the days when Marmaris was a small fishing village.
Most of ports of call and marinas are emptying.
Many yachts are going to Greece, Cyprus, Malta…
Istanbul is far away … 15 hours by road or 1 hour by air. Still, any incident whatsoever or threat of one is turning tourists away.
I believe this situation is going to last for the next 3 years. Recuperation will be slow.
This update re. applications for resident permits was posted on the Marmaris Bay Cruisers blog (http://cruisingtips.net/mbc/)
Since the transition to Mugla on 15 May for resident permit applications, Agents say that local agencies are now not able to administer initial residency applications and that these can only be dealt with in Mugla on an appointment basis.
At the moment, the Mugla bureaucracy is under such pressure that appointments are being made for mid-October at the earliest. …that many others are very frustrated by this situation and say that representations are being made by many sources from trades unions, agents and other businesses who fear yacht crews will have no option but to leave Turkey unless an urgent alternative is found.
Posted on behalf of anonymous:
Netsel Marina have introduced charges for electricity which is completely over the top and should be taken into consideration when thinking about using this marina. Electricity has been factored into the price of a berth over the past twenty years and worked well because there was only one charge which was known up
front. However now there is a metered electrical supply. The local rate is between 0.12 and 0.38 lira per kilowatt depending on the time of day, however Netsel have began charging 0.44 Euros per kilowatt for all yachts. Previously this was only charged for those requiring three phase 32 amp supply. I guess they
feel that because owners/skippers of large motor yachts did not dispute this
charge that it was acceptable to gouge all yacht owners. There is also a charge of 6 Euros for the card used to load the meter and any credits will not be reimbursed. No details have been announced as to how charges will be handled for those visiting for one or two nights.
Sorry, I made a mistake on the company name: it must be MAVIMAR instead of Mavimer.
Works at Marmaris: I contacted, via Internet, the company Mavimer in Marmaris. I was very pleased with the results of their works on my boat, carried out in 2013. In addition to their technical & professional skills, Ercan & Emilia speak fluent French, fluent Italian and fluent English. Do not hesitate to contact them, they will help you.
mseverin