Larger motor yachts — 14 to 30+ metres — are a different commercial animal from the 10 m motor boats covered on our main owner page. Day rates are 3–6× higher, charters are usually crewed, and the operational paperwork (APA, despacho, crew contracts) scales accordingly. This page covers how we list and manage yachts in Marbella — what owners realistically take home, who supplies the crew, and what changes when the boat is 18 m+ rather than 10 m.
What 'yacht' means commercially on the Costa del Sol
Below 12 m, the market is bareboat-eligible (renter holds PER, takes the boat themselves) or skippered. Day rates run €400–€1,100. Above 14 m, almost everything is crewed — partly because few renters hold the Patrón de Yate or Capitán de Yate licence the vessel requires, partly because the renter buying an 18 m yacht day is buying the experience, not the helm. From 18 m up, the market is genuinely premium: long-weekend charters, milestone celebrations, multi-day Med trips. Day rates €2,800–€4,500; multi-day €18,000–€55,000.
Realistic season earnings — 14–24 m
| Yacht size / type | Day rate (low/high) | Season charter days | Gross revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 m Fairline Targa / Sunseeker Predator | €1,400–€2,200 | 28–38 | €52,000–€88,000 |
| 16 m Princess / Azimut | €1,800–€2,800 | 30–42 | €72,000–€118,000 |
| 18 m Princess / Sunseeker Manhattan | €2,400–€3,600 | 32–48 | €105,000–€165,000 |
| 22 m Ferretti / Princess | €3,200–€4,800 | 30–45 | €120,000–€195,000 |
| 24 m+ Mangusta / Pershing | €4,200–€6,500 | 26–40 | €135,000–€235,000 |
Subtract: 15–20% commission, crew days (mostly renter-paid but some owner contribution on long charters), fuel pass-through net (usually breaks even), insurance, marina, maintenance reserve. Net to owner typically lands at 55–70% of gross.
Crew — three options
- You captain. Fine if you hold Patrón de Yate (up to 24 m) or Capitán de Yate (above). Stewardess and chef still needed for 18 m+ — supplied from our roster or yours.
- You nominate the captain. Existing skipper you trust, English/Spanish speaker, holds the required title. We vet briefly, add to the despacho, brief on our protocols.
- We supply. Vetted Marbella-based roster: captains €220–€320/day, stewardesses €160–€220, chefs (24 m+) €260–€380. All ENG1 medical, STCW Basic Safety, food handler certs current. Crew paid by renter, not owner.
For multi-day charters (3+ days), crew live-aboard adds a flat €40–€60/day per crew member to the renter's bill (covers their food). Tipping is customary in the Med — 10–15% of charter price, paid in cash to captain at end, split among crew.
APA — what it is and why owners don't see it
APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a 25–30% cash deposit the renter pays the captain at the start of any charter on a yacht 18 m+ or multi-day. It covers: fuel beyond the standard cruising allowance, marina dues at foreign ports, port and customs charges, provisioning (food, drinks), port agent fees, laundry. The captain holds the cash, spends it as needed, and reconciles to the renter at end of charter — either with receipts and any remaining cash returned, or a top-up if expenses exceeded the APA.
As yacht owner, you don't touch APA. It exists between renter and captain. It's relevant because the headline day rate (€3,200) is not the renter's actual spend — they're committing €3,200 + 25% APA = €4,000 effective. That changes how we position pricing.
Insurance for higher-value hulls
Yachts above €500,000 hull value need broker-led placement, not online-quote insurance. Pantaenius dominates this market in the western Med; smaller players like Una and AON can be competitive on 14–18 m. Annual premiums:
- 14–16 m, €450k–€800k hull: €3,000–€5,500/yr
- 18–22 m, €1.2M–€2M hull: €5,000–€8,000/yr
- 24 m+, €2.5M+ hull: €7,500–€14,000+/yr
Charter use mandatory on the schedule. Passenger liability €1M minimum on yachts 18 m+. Full deep-dive on our insurance page.
Why Marbella works for premium yachts
- August demand: Marbella is one of the three Spanish coastal markets (alongside Ibiza and Mallorca) where 22 m+ yacht day rates clear €4,500 without a hard sell. Demand concentrates 15 July – 25 August.
- Multi-day trips to Gibraltar, Tarifa, Sotogrande: easy 60–110 NM runs that justify weekend charters at €18,000–€32,000.
- Repeat-renter market: Marbella attracts the same UK / German / Nordic families year after year. Repeat bookings on premium yachts run 35–45% by Year 3.
- Shoulder season: May, June, September stay warm enough for charter (water 19–24°C) when the islands are already cooling. Adds 8–12 weekends of revenue most owners would miss in Mallorca.
How to list a yacht with us
- WhatsApp +358 400 406 194 with: hull length, year, refit history if any, current insurance, lista status.
- We come to the marina for a full walkthrough — typically 45–60 minutes on a 14 m+ yacht. Photos, videos, interior shots, engine room.
- Pricing meeting: review your previous charter rates if any, benchmark against the live market, set day rate + multi-day + APA framework.
- Crew alignment: confirm your team or introduce ours.
- Listing live in 5–10 days. EN + ES copy, professional photos, video, calendar sync.
No upfront fee, no contract lock-in, 30-day notice to drop. Listing fee on the main brokerage platforms (Boatsetter, Click&Boat) we can syndicate to with calendar sync — extra exposure, no extra work for you.
Related: more for yacht owners
Frequently asked questions
What size yacht qualifies as 'list your yacht' vs 'list your boat'?
Rough split: below 12 m we treat it as a motor boat (see [list your boat](/owners/list-your-boat-marbella/)); 12–18 m is a motor yacht with optional crew; 18 m+ is crewed-charter territory with captain + stewardess minimum and a chef on 24 m+. The legal split (lista 6, ITB) is the same; the commercial play differs.
How much does a 14–18m yacht earn in Marbella per season?
Mid-quartile owners on our 2025 books: 14 m Sunseeker / Fairline grossed €52,000–€88,000 May–October on 28–38 charter days. 18 m yachts (Princess, Azimut) ran €105,000–€165,000 on 32–48 charter days. Top quartile (excellent listings + reviews) adds 25–35%. Subtract 15–20% commission, fuel pass-through, crew.
Do I need to supply crew, or do you?
Three options: (1) your own captain — fine if PER / Capitán de Yate; (2) you nominate crew from your existing network; (3) we supply from our vetted Marbella roster. Captain €220–€320/day, stewardess €160–€220/day, chef (24m+) €260–€380/day. Crew paid by renter, not owner.
What is APA and do I get it on a Marbella yacht?
Advance Provisioning Allowance — a 25–30% upfront cash deposit the renter pays to cover fuel, marina dues at foreign ports, provisioning, port charges. Standard on yachts 18 m+ and on multi-day charters. Held by the captain, reconciled at end of charter with receipts. Yacht owner doesn't see this; it's renter-to-crew.
Can I keep the yacht for personal use between charters?
Yes — that's the whole local-managed point. You give us a calendar with blocked dates. Common pattern on 14m+ yachts: owners block 6–10 weeks across the season (Easter, late June family week, August fortnight). We work around the calendar.
What about wear and tear from charter use?
Real and worth pricing in. Budget 30–50% higher annual maintenance than pleasure use: more interior cleaning, faster gelcoat wear from fenders, batteries and toilets cycled harder, antifouling annually instead of every 18 months. We do a damage walk-around after every charter and flag anything beyond normal wear — covered by the renter's deposit or insurance.
Do you handle international charters (Gibraltar, Morocco)?
Yes for Gibraltar day trips and Tarifa runs — fully within standard cover and despacho. Morocco crossings (Tanger Med) require extra paperwork, Moroccan agent, and rider on insurance — we arrange, ~€800–€1,400 extra in fees. Multi-day Med deliveries (Marbella to Ibiza, Marbella to Sardinia) we also handle — owner gets a cleaner positioning fee structure.
Is my yacht too old to list?
Practical cut-off: build year 2000 or refit within last 8 years. Older hulls list fine if interior and systems are current. Below that, the insurance load and renter feedback ('looks tired in the photos') stops working. We do an honest assessment on the marina walkthrough.