Bozburun Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

The main anchorage in front of the Bozburun waterfront. 4–12m over mud and sand with good holding when set correctly. The harbour is home to the active gulet-building yards — several large gulets in various stages of construction are visible from the anchorage throughout the year. The quay has diesel, water, and fresh provisions.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Bozburun is primarily mud and sand with reliable holding when properly set. Use the following approach:

1. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 4–12m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m depth).
2. Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back — do not allow chain to pile on the anchor.
3. Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
4. Take a GPS bearing. Note your position once set and compare to the scope calculator to confirm you have adequate chain for the depth.

Recommended anchor types for this bottom: Rocna, Delta, Bruce, Mantus. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Bozburun are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to S and SW winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 75m radius before going below for the night.At 7m typical anchoring depth: 7:1 scope = 49m chain. 75m recommended to account for the open southern exposure and boat traffic from the working harbour. The bay has commercial boatyard activity — keep clear of working areas marked by buoys near the boatyard.

Bozburun is the main provisioning base for the southern Hisarönü gulf and the southern Bozburun Peninsula route towards Bozukkale. It is a working port year-round — the gulet yards operate 12 months. Good for a full supply stop (diesel, water, provisions, fresh fish from the daily market). Peak season is moderately busy but the working harbour character keeps crowds manageable.

Navigation Hazards

• Working boatyard area — do not anchor in the boatyard sections marked with buoys
• Southern exposure: if southerly swell enters, the anchorage becomes uncomfortable — quay stern-to is more stable than anchoring out in S/SW conditions
• Commercial ferry and supply boats use the quay — check schedules and leave the ferry berth clear
• Shallow shelf near the shore behind the boatyard — stay in the main bay away from the yard shoreline

Rules & Regulations

• Permit: Not required
• Anchoring fee: Free (anchor); quay stern-to with lazy lines ~€10/night
• Maximum stay: 11 days

For a full overview of Turkish anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Available
• Fuel: Available
• Restaurant: Several restaurants on the waterfront. Also a small supermarket and a bakery.
• Provisions: Available

Skipper's Tips

1. Top up diesel and water here — it is the last reliable fuel stop before Bozukkale (8nm) and the Datça Peninsula route
2. Visit the boatyards on foot — the craftsmen welcome spectators and the sight of a 30-metre gulet being hand-crafted in an open yard is remarkable
3. The village market (Wednesday mornings) is the best fresh produce in the southern gulf
4. Anchor in the middle of the bay away from the boatyard zone rather than taking a quay berth — quieter and the same distance from shore facilities by dinghy
5. The route south around the Bozburun Peninsula to Bozukkale (ancient Loryma) passes through open Aegean — check weather before departing, as conditions outside the gulf can be significantly rougher