Boat owners in Marbella, Puerto Banús, Estepona and Sotogrande sit on an asset that costs €15,000–€60,000 a year to keep — moorings, antifouling, insurance, surveyor — and earns nothing for 200+ days. Renting it out two or three weekends a month covers the marina bill and then some. This page explains how to rent out your boat through us: what you'll earn, what it costs, what the Spanish lista 6 rules require, and why local listing beats Boatsetter or Click&Boat for Costa del Sol owners.
How much can you earn?
Depends on length, condition, season and how many weekends you let us book. Realistic 2026 numbers for a Marbella-based fleet:
| Boat | Day rate (low) | Day rate (Aug) | Monthly gross (peak) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 m license-free RIB | €220 | €320 | €1,800–€2,800 |
| 8 m motor boat | €400 | €600 | €2,800–€4,500 |
| 10–12 m motor yacht (Astondoa 40, Azimut 39) | €749 | €1,100 | €3,500–€6,500 |
| 14–16 m yacht (Fairline, Sunseeker Predator) | €1,400 | €2,200 | €7,000–€12,000 |
| 18–24 m crewed yacht (Mangusta 80, Ferretti) | €2,800 | €4,500 | €12,000–€25,000 |
| Sailing yacht 12–15 m | €650 | €950 | €2,800–€5,000 |
| Catamaran 38–45 ft | €1,200 | €1,800 | €6,000–€11,000 |
| Sea-Doo jet ski (per hour) | €90 | €140 | €1,400–€3,200 |
Subtract our 15–20% commission, fuel pass-through (renter pays), captain (renter pays if needed) and one rough cleaning per charter (€40–€80). The rest is yours. Owners who block 8 weeks of personal use and let us run the rest typically clear €18,000–€35,000 net across a season on a 10–12 m boat.
How the listing works — step by step
- WhatsApp us (+358 400 406 194) with 6–10 phone photos and your lista number.
- Marina visit: we come down for a 20-minute walkthrough — confirm condition, check lista 6 status, photograph what your phone shots missed.
- Listing goes live in 5–7 days: pro photos, a 60-second video, English + Spanish copy, calendar sync.
- You approve every booking before it confirms — WhatsApp ping with renter name, group size, date.
- Check-in at the slip: our team meets the renter, runs the briefing, hands over keys, takes the deposit. You don't have to be there.
- Payout: weekly bank transfer (SEPA), with itemised statement.
Lista 6 vs lista 7 — what Spanish law actually requires
Spanish recreational vessels are split into lista 7 (private pleasure use only) and lista 6 (commercial — charter, training, sea taxi). Renting out a lista 7 boat is illegal under Royal Decree 1435/2010 and, critically, voids every insurance policy on it. You must switch the vessel to lista 6 before the first paid charter.
The switch is not painful but not instant:
- Filing with the Capitanía Marítima (Málaga or Estepona office).
- A technical inspection (ITB) by a recognised body — every 5 years for boats < 24 m.
- Charter-grade insurance (not your existing policy — see [the insurance page](/owners/boat-rental-insurance-spain/)).
- IVA (Spanish VAT, 21%) on charter revenue, declared quarterly via Modelo 303.
- Despacho de salida — sailing permit issued for each charter; we handle this.
Most owners complete the switch in 4–8 weeks. Boats over 24 m or charters longer than 24 hours have extra requirements — we'll walk you through them.
Insurance — the part owners get wrong
Your existing Mapfre, AXA or Pantaenius pleasure-use policy almost certainly excludes paid charter activity. One rental, even a friend paying €50 for fuel, can void the year's cover. You need a charter policy with:
- Passenger liability ≥ €600,000 (the Spanish legal minimum; we recommend €1M).
- Hull cover at full agreed value, with charter use disclosed.
- Crew cover for the skipper and any stewardess.
- Pollution liability — €300,000 minimum.
Charter premiums in 2026 run €800/yr for a 6 m RIB to €3,500/yr for a 15 m yacht to €6,000+ for an 18 m+ vessel. Pantaenius and Una offer the most owner-friendly Spanish-market policies; we'll introduce you. Full breakdown and broker contacts on the [boat rental insurance Spain page](/owners/boat-rental-insurance-spain/).
Commission compared: us vs Boatsetter, Click&Boat, Samboat, GetMyBoat
| Platform | Owner-side commission | Renter-side fee | Insurance bundled | Local check-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat Rental Marbella (us) | 15–20% | 0% (price shown is price paid) | No — you arrange | Yes — Marbella team |
| Boatsetter | ~10% + insurance load → ~25–35% effective | 10–15% | Yes (Geico/Markel, US-centric) | No |
| Click&Boat | 15–22% | ~6% | Optional add-on | No |
| Samboat | 15% | ~7% | Optional | No |
| GetMyBoat | 7–10% | 7–10% | Optional | No |
The honest pitch: the global platforms drive more top-of-funnel traffic than we do — that's their main advantage. We win on net take-home (because our commission is lower and renters don't see a 15% surcharge), on Spanish-speaking marina-side support, and on the fact that we can put a body on your boat at handover. Many of our owners list with us and on Click&Boat — calendars sync via iCal.
What kinds of boats we list
Anything seaworthy, well-maintained and lista-6 compliant. Our current fleet includes Astondoa 40s, Azimut 39s, a Mangusta 80, jet skis, a Lagoon 380 catamaran, and several smaller [no-license RIBs](/boat-rental-no-license-marbella/). We list:
- Motor yachts 8–30 m — most demand, easiest to fill.
- Sailing yachts 10–18 m — see [list your sailboat](/owners/list-your-sailboat-marbella/).
- Catamarans 38–55 ft — premium day-charter market, see [list your catamaran](/owners/list-your-catamaran-marbella/).
- Jet skis — high-volume, hourly rentals, see [list your jet ski](/owners/list-your-jet-ski-marbella/).
- License-free 5 m / 15 hp RIBs — strong walk-up demand at Puerto Banús.
- Crewed superyachts 18 m+ — premium full-day and weekly charters, see [list your yacht](/owners/list-your-yacht-marbella/).
Fishing boats, RIBs and traditional Spanish lanchas all welcome. We don't list houseboats, jet boats with structural issues, or vessels older than 25 years without a recent refit.
Why local-managed beats a global platform
Three reasons owners switch to us after a season on the big sites:
- Damage triage in 20 minutes, not 6 weeks. When a renter scratches the gelcoat, our team is at the slip with photos and a marine-yard quote the same afternoon. Global platforms route claims through email chains in another time zone.
- Pre-booking screening. We WhatsApp every renter before confirming — group composition, plans, prior experience. Bachelor parties looking to launch fireworks off the bow get politely steered elsewhere.
- Spanish-side admin. Despacho paperwork, marina permission, Modelo 303 quarterlies — we handle the Spanish-only steps and hand you a clean export for your gestor.
Trade-off: we list ~80 boats around the Costa del Sol, not 8,000 globally. If you want sheer impression volume, list with us and Click&Boat. We'll set up the calendar sync.
Related: more for boat owners
- List your yacht — 14m+ premium tier
- Charter out your catamaran
- List your jet ski in Marbella
- List your sailboat
- Boat rental insurance Spain
- Start a charter business
- BoatHire24 vs Boatsetter
- BoatHire24 vs Click&Boat
- How much can I earn renting my boat
- Do you need licence to rent boat spain
- Marbella boat licence guide
- Marbella boat licence types
- How much does yacht charter marbella cost
Frequently asked questions
How much can I earn renting my boat in Marbella?
Realistic gross for a well-photographed 10–12 m motor yacht in 2026: €3,500–€6,500 a month from May to October, with 40–55% occupancy on weekends. An 18–22 m crewed yacht runs €12,000–€25,000 a month peak. Below 8 m or no skipper available, expect €1,200–€2,500. Subtract 15–20% commission, fuel pass-through and insurance.
What commission do you charge owners?
15–20% of the daily rate per booked day, charged only when a booking confirms. No listing fee, no monthly cost, no charge for blocked dates. Boatsetter takes ~25–35% once their insurance load is included; Click&Boat and Samboat sit at 15–22% but pile on add-ons. We keep one flat rate.
Do I need lista 6 to rent my boat out?
Yes. Spanish law splits recreational vessels into lista 7 (private use) and lista 6 (commercial / charter). Renting out a lista 7 boat is illegal and uninsured. The switch involves Capitanía Marítima paperwork, a technical inspection (ITB) and quarterly tax on charter revenue. We have a checklist — see our [boat rental insurance page](/owners/boat-rental-insurance-spain/).
What about insurance — my normal policy covers this, right?
Almost certainly not. Pleasure-use boat policies in Spain explicitly exclude charter activity; one rental voids the cover for the whole year. You need a charter-grade policy with passenger liability ≥ €600k and crew cover. Premiums run €800–€3,500/yr depending on hull value and engine. Full breakdown on our [insurance page](/owners/boat-rental-insurance-spain/).
Can I block dates for personal use?
Yes — that's the whole point of local-managed listing vs a global platform. You give us a calendar (we use a shared Google calendar or sync with your existing one), block holidays, family weeks, refit windows. Nothing books without your confirmation.
Who captains the boat?
Three options. (1) You captain — fine if you hold the relevant Spanish title (PER, Capitán de Yate). (2) You nominate a skipper from your existing network. (3) We supply a vetted Marbella skipper from our roster — €180–€260 per charter day, paid by the renter, not you.
How does this compare to Boatsetter, Click&Boat, Samboat or GetMyBoat?
Those are global platforms — you compete on a list with 200+ boats in southern Spain and the listing manager is in Paris or Miami. We're local: in-person check-in/out, fast Spanish-speaking WhatsApp triage with the marina, and a smaller commission with no insurance markup. Trade-off: lower top-of-funnel volume than Click&Boat. We recommend listing on both — many of our owners do.
How do I get started?
Send 6–10 photos and the boat's lista number to +358 400 406 194 on WhatsApp. We come down to the marina, do a 20-minute walkthrough, confirm the insurance and lista 6 status, then write the listing copy and shoot a 60-second video. Live within 5–7 days. No contract lock-in — drop us with 30 days' notice.