If you are choosing between the Ferretti 94 and the Canados 86 in Marbella, you are picking between our two largest motor yachts: a 29m Italian flybridge against a 26m raised-pilothouse classic. Both depart Puerto Banús, both seat the legal maximum of 12 charter guests, and both come with skipper, drinks and IVA included. This guide is the honest side-by-side: where the extra 3m of Ferretti actually matters, where the Canados quietly wins, and how to book the right one for your group.
The headline numbers
Strip out the marketing and you are left with three differences that decide most charters: length, deck layout and personality. Everything else — guest cap, departure port, what comes in the bottle fridge — is the same.
| Spec | Ferretti 94 | Canados 86 |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 29 m | 26 m |
| Max guests (day charter) | 12 | 12 |
| Decks | 3 + flybridge | 3 + flybridge |
| Departure port | Puerto Banús | Puerto Banús |
| Cruising speed | ~20-22 kts | ~20-22 kts |
| Pricing | On request | On request |
The 12-guest cap is not a fleet quirk — it is Spanish charter law. Any boat carrying more than 12 day-trippers needs a different (much rarer and more expensive) licence, so when you are comparing superyachts in Marbella, you are always comparing space per guest, not guest count. See the wider line-up on the Boat Rental Marbella hub to put these two in context.
Ferretti 94: the modern flybridge
The Ferretti 94 is the bigger boat and it shows on the flybridge. There is a wet bar, an upper-deck dining area and sunpads aft of the helm — the kind of layout that turns a sunset return into the loudest part of the day. The main saloon is wide-beam with floor-to-ceiling glazing, so even when guests stay inside they get the full Marbella coastline view.
Where the Ferretti earns its premium: corporate groups, milestone birthdays, hen-and-stag charters that want a real event platform, and anyone who plans to spend more time at anchor than under way. With 12 guests on board you still get genuine circulation between the swim platform, main deck and flybridge without anyone feeling boxed in.
If you also want a faster sportier ride for smaller groups, the Pershing 46 is the natural step-down — same Italian DNA, half the length, sharper performance.
Canados 86: the classic raised pilothouse
The Canados 86 is a 26m yacht with the kind of styling that does not chase trends. The raised pilothouse gives the silhouette its character — and gives guests a separate, quieter wheelhouse-deck lounge that the Ferretti does not really have. It is the more discreet of the two: less Riviera party platform, more private superyacht weekend.
Where the Canados earns its place: groups of 6-10 who want all the superyacht volume without the full 12-pax event feel; clients who prefer classic interior wood and warmer materials over high-gloss modern; and anyone who finds 3m of extra Ferretti unnecessary for their plan. The flybridge is more compact but, on a quiet Tuesday cruise to Sotogrande, that is the point.
How the day actually runs
From Puerto Banús, both yachts open up the same coastline. Westbound you have Estepona at roughly 40 minutes of cruising, Sotogrande at about 75 minutes, and the protected anchorage at Cala del Faro at 25-30 minutes. Eastbound, Cabopino and the Río Verde stretch are inside half an hour for a swim and a coastal pass of the Golden Mile.
A standard 8-hour day on either yacht looks similar: 11:00 boarding with cava and brief, a 45-60 minute cruise to your first anchor, 2-3 hours swimming and lunching, a coastal cruise back with sundowners on the flybridge, and a 19:00 return. The skipper handles routing, weather and the tender; you decide where and how long.
What is included on both
- Licensed skipper for the full charter
- Fuel — no surcharges for the published route
- Water, soft drinks, beer, white wine and Spanish cava
- Light snacks (charcuterie, fruit, crisps)
- All insurance and safety equipment
- 21% Spanish IVA
Not included by default: full chef-prepared lunches, premium spirits, jet skis, Seabobs, and very long routes (Gibraltar, Tarifa). All of these can be added — we quote them in writing before the day so there are no awkward surprises at disembarkation. For the lighter, family-day alternative see the Azimut 58 Flybridge, which is our mid-size 12-pax option.
Pricing and how to get a real quote
We do not publish public day rates for either yacht. Superyacht pricing at this size depends on the season (mid-July and August run hotter than May or October), the hours booked, the route and any add-ons, and any single published number would be wrong half the time. The honest move is a WhatsApp message with your date, group size, preferred hours and rough route — you will get a written quote back, all-in, with extras itemised separately.
If your group is closer to 8-10 guests and you would rather see a published price, look at the Astondoa 40 at €749 for 2 hours up to €2,299 for 8 hours — a different boat with different feel, but a fully transparent rate.
So which one should you book?
Pick the Ferretti 94 if you have a full 12-guest group, want a true event-grade flybridge, are running a corporate or milestone charter, or simply want the biggest boat on our line-up of Marbella superyacht charters. Pick the Canados 86 if you are 6-10 guests, prefer classic styling over modern flybridge volume, and want the quieter, more private-feeling superyacht day. Both deliver the same coastline at the same speed — the difference is the room you do it in.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, the Ferretti 94 or the Canados 86?
The Ferretti 94 is the larger of the two at 29m length overall, against 26m for the Canados 86 — a 3m difference that shows up in beam, headroom and saloon footprint rather than guest count. Both are licensed for the same legal maximum of 12 charter guests in Spanish waters, so the extra metres buy space per person, not more seats.
How many guests can each yacht take in Marbella?
Both the Ferretti 94 and the Canados 86 carry a maximum of 12 guests on day charter, which is the hard ceiling for any commercial charter yacht operating under Spanish flag rules. If your group is 13 or more, you either split across two boats or charter the yacht with a sub-group rotating on a tender — we can plan either option.
Which yacht has a better flybridge for sundowners?
The Ferretti 94 has a notably larger flybridge with a wet bar, dining area and sunpads aft of the helm — it is the more sociable upper deck of the two. The Canados 86 has a more compact flybridge with a classic feel, which some guests prefer for quieter sunset cruises along the Golden Mile rather than full-deck parties.
Are drinks and food included on both charters?
Yes. Every charter on both yachts includes a licensed skipper, fuel, water, soft drinks, beer, white wine, cava, light snacks, insurance, safety equipment and 21% Spanish IVA. If you want a full chef-prepared lunch, premium spirits or a specific champagne, we add those as upgrades quoted before the day, with nothing hidden in the final bill.
How far can we cruise in a day on either boat?
Both yachts cruise around 20-22 kts, which puts Estepona at roughly 40 minutes, Sotogrande at about 75 minutes and Cala del Faro at 25-30 minutes from Puerto Banús. A standard 8-hour charter comfortably covers any one of those destinations with anchor time for swimming, lunch and a sunset return.
Do either of them carry water toys?
Both yachts carry standard swimming kit — paddleboards, snorkel gear and a tender — and we can pre-arrange jet skis, Seabobs or wakeboards as a paid add-on on either boat. If toys are central to your plan, mention it on the WhatsApp enquiry so we can confirm what is on board the specific charter date.
Which is the better choice for a corporate event?
The Ferretti 94 is usually the better corporate choice — the larger saloon and flybridge give space for presentations, branded catering and 12 guests circulating without crowding. The Canados 86 suits smaller VIP groups of 6-10 who want a more intimate, classic-superyacht feel rather than a full event platform with multiple zones.
How do I get a real price for either boat?
Send a WhatsApp message with your date, group size, preferred hours and rough route — we reply with a written quote that includes the all-in price, what is included and what optional extras cost. We do not publish public day rates on the larger superyachts because they shift with hours, season and route, and we would rather quote honestly than display a number that misleads.