Peer-to-peer boat rental — the 'Airbnb for boats' model — moved roughly €1.4 billion in bookings worldwide in 2025, with Boatsetter, Click&Boat, Samboat and GetMyBoat as the household names. Marbella owners listing on those global platforms hit two ceilings: commissions that climb to 25–35% once insurance load is included, and a help desk three time zones away when a renter scratches the gelcoat. This page explains the P2P model, what it looks like for a Marbella owner, and how a locally-run P2P operation differs from a global one. If you're ready to list your boat, the practical steps are on the main owner page.
What 'peer-to-peer' actually means in boat rental
Three roles: owner (lists the boat), renter (books it), platform (handles payments, calendar, insurance referrals, dispute resolution). It looks like Airbnb because it borrows Airbnb's architecture — search, instant booking or request-to-book, ratings both ways, a security deposit, a host payout schedule. The vessel never leaves the owner's name or registration.
The opposite model is a charter fleet, where a company owns the boats and rents them directly. Both exist in Marbella; the P2P share has grown roughly 4× since 2019 because individual owners realised their €280,000 boat could pay its own marina bill.
Peer-to-peer vs traditional charter — a clear definition
This page focuses on the peer-to-peer model — how owners list, how renters book, how the marketplace flows. For the insurance side of P2P (passenger liability, hull cover, the bundled-vs-standalone debate, premiums, brokers), see our dedicated boat rental insurance Spain page (EU charter cover) or US boat rental insurance page. The two topics overlap on the phrase 'peer-to-peer' but cover different decisions an owner has to make.
The four global platforms — and where we fit
| Platform | HQ | Marbella inventory | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boatsetter | Miami | ~40 boats | US tourist traffic, bundled insurance for US-flagged vessels | EU vessels poorly covered; high effective commission |
| Click&Boat | Paris | ~280 boats | Largest EU inventory, French / German organic traffic | Owner-side support is Paris-only; insurance is add-on |
| Samboat | Bordeaux | ~140 boats | Strong on sailing yachts and bareboat | Smaller renter audience outside France |
| GetMyBoat | San Francisco | ~90 boats | Listing is genuinely free; low commission both sides | Renter screening is light; slower disputes |
| Boat Rental Marbella (us) | Marbella | ~80 boats | Local check-in/out, Spanish admin, lower commission, faster claims | Smaller top-of-funnel; not international SEO yet |
None of these are mutually exclusive. The data from owners who list on us plus one global platform: combined bookings up 35–50% vs single-listing, with us taking ~60% of the bookings because Marbella-locals and repeat renters find us first.
What a P2P listing earns in Marbella — real numbers
Based on actual 2025 owner statements (anonymised):
- 10 m Astondoa, listed both us + Click&Boat: 22 charters May–Oct, €18,400 gross, €14,950 net after commission, fuel pass-through, two cleanings.
- 12 m Azimut, us-only: 17 charters, €22,600 gross, €18,500 net.
- 24 m Mangusta crewed: 9 charters (full-day, peak season), €46,800 gross, €37,800 net.
- Sea-Doo jet ski, us + walk-in marina: 142 hourly rentals June–September, €15,640 gross, €12,800 net.
- License-free 5 m RIB, us-only: 31 charters, €7,650 gross, €6,150 net.
Not every boat hits these numbers. The bottom quartile of our listings take 5–8 charters in a full season because the photos are bad, the calendar is closed half the time, or the owner refuses to allow skippered charters. The fix is usually copy and photos, not pricing.
How a booking flows — start to finish
- Renter enquiry arrives via site form, WhatsApp, or partner-platform booking. We screen: group composition, age range, prior charter history, plans for the day.
- Owner approval ping on WhatsApp. You see the renter's name, group size, requested date, special requests. 4-hour window to approve or reject.
- Deposit + balance taken via card or SEPA. Funds held in our escrow until 48 hours post-charter.
- Despacho de salida filed by us with Capitanía. Required for every paid charter.
- Check-in at the slip: our team meets renter, runs safety briefing, hands over keys, confirms damage state with timestamped photos. Owner does not need to be present.
- Charter runs. If skippered, our captain takes over. If bareboat (renters with PER), they leave with the briefing complete.
- Return inspection: damage check, fuel level, cleanliness. Photos again. Any issues flagged to owner within 60 minutes.
- Funds released 48 hours later, net of commission. Weekly batch payout to the owner's bank account.
Renter screening — the part that actually matters
The reason owners stay with us instead of pure self-serve global platforms: renter screening. Every enquiry gets a WhatsApp voice call (not a chat — voice). We confirm group composition, ask what they're planning, ask about prior charter experience. Around 12% of enquiries get politely declined at this stage. The most common rejections:
- Stag parties of 15+ on a 10 m boat (overcrowding, deposit risk).
- 'Influencer' requests offering exposure instead of payment.
- Renters wanting to launch fireworks or pyrotechnics from the deck.
- Cash-only bookings with no card on file (deposit recovery becomes impossible).
- Requests to take the boat to international waters / Morocco without proper paperwork.
Owners get final call. We send the screening notes with the approval request so you decide informed.
Insurance, deposits and damage handling
Insurance is the owner's responsibility — we don't bundle it because Spanish charter insurance is annual-only and you need it whether you list with us, with Click&Boat, or both. See our boat rental insurance Spain page for cover requirements and broker contacts.
Deposits: €500 for jet skis and license-free RIBs, €1,000 for 8–12 m boats, €1,500–€2,500 for 14 m+. Pre-authorised on a card, captured only if damage exceeds normal wear. Disputes are handled by us with timestamped check-in / check-out photos. We have a 96% deposit-release-clean rate; the 4% with deductions average €280 (mostly fender damage and gelcoat scrapes).
Related: owner-side reading
Frequently asked questions
What is peer-to-peer boat rental?
A marketplace model where private boat owners rent their vessels directly to consumers, with the platform handling payments, insurance referrals, booking calendar and renter screening. Boatsetter and Click&Boat coined the 'Airbnb for boats' frame. We run the same model locally in Marbella, with in-person check-in/out that global platforms can't match.
How does P2P boat rental work in Marbella specifically?
Owner lists the boat via WhatsApp + marina walkthrough. Renter finds the listing on our site or a partner platform, books a date, pays deposit. We screen the renter, get owner approval, run the in-person briefing at the slip. Owner receives the boat back cleaned, with deposit released or deducted per the damage check.
How do payouts work?
Renter pays us via card or SEPA transfer. We hold funds until the charter completes plus a 48-hour damage window. Then we pay you weekly via bank transfer, net of the 15–20% commission, with an itemised statement. No hidden fees, no FX margin (everything in EUR).
Who is the typical renter?
32–48 year old, often visiting from the UK, Germany, France or Nordics; group of 6–10 (couples, families, friends groups); booking 8–15 days in advance; spend €600–€2,400 for a day. Bachelor / bachelorette parties are about 18% of bookings — vetted carefully. Around 30% are repeat renters returning to Marbella each summer.
Can I reject a booking?
Yes. Every booking pings you on WhatsApp with renter name, group composition, date, special requests. You have 4 hours to approve or reject. Common rejections we see: oversize groups, party requests on smaller boats, deposit disputes. Around 12% of requests get vetoed at this stage.
What's the difference between you and Boatsetter / Click&Boat?
Boatsetter and Click&Boat are global; we are local. They drive more top-of-funnel traffic (especially Click&Boat in Europe). We drive higher net take-home (lower commission, no insurance markup) and faster claims response because someone is at the marina. Many owners run both — calendars sync via iCal.
Does Airbnb own a boat rental business?
No, Airbnb itself does not run boat rentals. The 'Airbnb for boats' phrase describes platforms operating Airbnb's model in the marine vertical: Boatsetter (US-led), Click&Boat (Paris-based, EU-led), Samboat (French), GetMyBoat (US-based). Each operates with the same listing-marketplace-payment-handling structure Airbnb pioneered for homes.
What if my boat sits idle most weekends?
Then your listing copy or pricing is wrong. We rewrite both for free. Common fixes: photos taken in flat midday light (replace with golden hour), missing video (we shoot one), price 15% above the local 10-12m motor yacht median, no sunset cruise option (add it). Listings that take fewer than 4 weekend bookings May–September get a full audit from us.