The Astondoa 40 is a 12.5 m Spanish-built motor yacht — our "Fufi" out of Puerto Banús. It sits in a specific niche on the Marbella charter market: bigger than the sport boats and RIBs most casual renters end up on, smaller and more accessible than the 18+ m luxury yachts. This page lays out, honestly, when she's the right choice and what you'd be giving up on a smaller boat.
The size class below the Astondoa 40
Walk down any Marbella charter dock in July and you'll see two clusters of boats:
- Sport boats and bowriders 6–9 m — Bayliner VR5 / Element 7, Quicksilver Activ 605, Sea Ray 230 Sundeck, Beneteau Antares 7, plus a lot of RIBs (rigid inflatables) at 7–9 m. Marketed at 5–6 guests, often dropped to 4 in practice because of bag and cooler space.
- Day cabin cruisers 9–11 m — Bayliner 285, Sea Ray 270 SLX, Galeon 280. Better than the bowriders — small cabin, marine head, more shade — but still day-focused, no overnight comfort.
These boats serve a purpose. For 2–4 people who just want to bounce around the bay for 2 hours and jump in the water, they're fine and they're cheap. But the moment your group is 5+, or your day is more than 3 hours, the trade-offs start to bite.
Capacity — the moment a smaller boat breaks
Most Marbella sport boats list "6 max" on the registration document. With 6 guests, swimming gear, towels, a cooler and lunch, the boat is genuinely full. You'll be touching shoulders all day. The Astondoa 40 takes 9 guests in the same hull footprint as roughly a 16 m boat would feel like — because the layout is built for cruising, not water-skiing.
Practical breaking point: at 5–6 guests on a sport boat, someone's always standing or perched on a cooler. On the Astondoa 40 at 9 guests, everyone has a proper seat, a cushion to nap on, and somewhere to put their bag.
Comfort — what an extra 3-4 metres buys you
- Bimini and shade. Sport boats have no shade — direct sun for 100% of the cockpit. By 14:00 in August, half the guests are hiding under their towels. The Astondoa 40 has a full bimini over the cockpit and a flybridge above with another shaded seating area.
- AC interior. A 7 m boat has no enclosed interior at all. The Astondoa 40 has an air-conditioned saloon with a U-shaped sofa, dining table for 6 and panoramic windows.
- Real toilet. Smaller boats either have no head, a portable Porta-Potti, or a tiny one with no door. The Astondoa 40 has a proper marine head with shower.
- Swim platform. Climbing back onto a 7 m boat means a flimsy ladder. The Astondoa 40 has a wide teak swim platform — easy in, easy out.
Range — where you can actually go
The Spanish licence-free category caps small boats at 2 nautical miles from the coast. Most rented 7–9 m sport boats stay inside that zone — coastal-only, bay hopping. On the Astondoa 40, with a licensed skipper, you can reach Estepona (16 NM west), Cabopino (12 NM east), or stretch to Sotogrande for a long-day charter. The cruising radius effectively triples.
Price per person — on a full boat the Astondoa often wins
| Boat type | Capacity | 2 h rental | Per person (full boat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 m bowrider | 5 guests | €350 | €70 |
| 9 m sport cruiser | 6 guests | €450 | €75 |
| Astondoa 40 (12.5 m) | 9 guests | €749 | €83 |
The per-person cost is close to the smaller boats, but you get the skipper included (no licence needed), full skipper + fuel + drinks + insurance + VAT all in, and dramatically more space.
When the Astondoa is the obvious pick
- Groups of 5+ guests. Anything smaller cramps a group of 5; everything beautiful starts at 6–9.
- Half-day or longer. Sport boats are uncomfortable past 3 hours. The Astondoa is comfortable for 8.
- First-time charterers. The skipper handles everything — no licence, no learning curve, no docking stress.
- Older guests or kids. Shade, AC, real toilet, easy swim platform — all matter when the group isn't bulletproof 20-somethings.
When a smaller boat is actually the right call
Honest answer: 2 people, 2 hours, on a budget under €300 — rent a 7 m sport boat. You'll have fun, splash around, get sun. We don't operate that segment because we don't believe in cramming people onto small platforms — but it's a legitimate use case.
Browse the Astondoa 40
Full specs, hourly price grid, photos and the on-board fridge reveal: see the Astondoa 40 page. Or compare against our other two boats: the Azimut 39 (same size, flybridge, 11 guests) and the flagship Mangusta 80 (24 m with jet ski). All depart from Puerto Banús, all with skipper and drinks included.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Astondoa 40 worth the upgrade over a 7-8 m boat?
For groups of 5 or more, yes — without question. Smaller sport boats max out at 6 guests with no proper interior, open decks, 5 NM coastal range. Our Astondoa 40 takes 9 guests in shaded comfort with an AC saloon, two cabins, and the range to reach Estepona or Cabopino. Per-person cost on a full boat is often lower too.
What boats does the Astondoa 40 typically compete with in Marbella?
In its size class (10–13 m motor yachts), main alternatives are older Sea Ray 290 Sundancers, Sealine S330, Bavaria Sport 32 and Galeon 305. Below that (7-9 m boats), there's no real comparison — those are day boats, not charter yachts.
What does smaller mean for the day experience?
On a 7-8 m boat: open cockpit only, hot in mid-summer, one swim ladder, no inside seating, no real toilet. On the Astondoa 40: shaded bimini, AC saloon, dining for 6, full head with shower, generous swim platform, option to nap in a cabin between swims.