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.
Browse the full fleet at BoatHire24.
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
Related guides
- List Your Jet Ski in Marbella: Rent It Out from Puerto Banús
- Dolphin Watching Boat Trips from Marbella: A Full Guide
- Best Anchorages for a Boat Trip from Marbella
- Winter Whale Watching Boat Trips from Marbella
- Boat Rental Benalmadena Marina: Compare & Book Online
- Motor Yacht Charter Marbella: Luxury & Speed
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.