Boat/Motor Title Questions

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

Has anyone ever bought a motor without a title and then tried to title it later on?

About 6 years ago I bought a small tiller outboard from a friend. He used it on private waters usually and never titled the motor. Recently, I decided to get the motor put into my name so that I can either use it or sell it. Under the TPWD website, the motor is registered to someone that owned the motor before my friend did.

It gave me the mans name and address, but after a quick google search I do not think he is still at the same residence.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

I also need to get the jon boat and trailer registered in my name. Luckily, I have the Title to the boat and Bill of Sale for both the boat and trailer. I know to get the boat title transferred through TPWD. Where can I take the Bill of Sale for the Trailer to get it put in my name?

It's a 14.5ft semi v-hull aluminum jon boat. I just started priming it up yesterday for its new camo paint job. If anyone has any experience here, I'd appreciate any tips. So far I sanded it and used Self Etching Primer. I have several cans of Camo (tan, green, black) spray paint to use. I'm going for a marsh look.

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

Here's the other issue I have. I removed the front aluminum piece that covers the first 1.5ft or so of the bow. The cross brace shown in the picture that was underneath broke off from one side of the hull. Do I just pop rivet it, take it to a welder, leave it, etc?

[buoy37]

PM on the way......

Got to keep the shady solutions private.

[Robalo]

Go to the TPWD website-it tells ya how. Lotta old boats and motors were never titled. I think prior to 74 they weren't required to be titled(?). Ya haul it to a TPWD Office, the GW will inspect it, verify from serial number not stolen, costs under $100 and shazam-you're legal to sell/trade w/o hassles. lemme know how it works-I got a 18' jonboat w/o title and need to do it.

[coachlaw]

The straight skinny is on a motor pre-'98 I believe, titles were not issued. Most states do not title outboards. So use the darn thing. There really isn't any reason to title it. They want you to title it so you pay the tax on it. Plain and simple. I've bought, sold, and presently own outboards without titles. As long as you're certain it's not stolen, leave it be. The flip side of this is if you ever do want to sell it, then it's pretty well understood that an un-titled motor will be cheaper than a titled one. Some people think this is wrong, and that it's flauting the law, but on a motor older than '98, I don't see anything wrong with it. Perhaps that makes me a bad man. Now, no title on a boat? Bad juju.

As far as the trailer, you register that with your local tax office, just like you register your car. All you need there is a bill of sale.


If I remember correctly on those old V-Hulls, the front cap is structural and it provides rigidity to the hull. You could rivet it back on and it would be fine. I think if you get it welded, it might crack. I'm not an aluminum welder though, so I could be wrong.

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

So there's no legal issues with having an untitled motor on your boat?

[Robalo]

That is correct-but to get your TPWD Boat Registration (the sticker for it), you have to title the boat. I did not title my 2003 twin motors or my 2008 Yammie 150. I don't like taxes-pay enough already to support a welfare family of four (and their big screen TV is likely nicer than mine).

[coachlaw]

Some people would disagree, but nobody ever checks to see if your motor is titled. I've been boarded no less than 6 times since 2004 here in Texas, and not once did a warden even ask. The last motor I sold, the serial numbers were faded on the sticker such that you couldn't read them even if you wanted to register it. Some people take me to task over my view of this, and to them I say . . . . whatever.

[SUPER SPOOK]

no worries on the motor,like Robalo said they are just trying to get more money out of you.

[Bobcat_Fisherman]

Thanks for the info. Anyone have any suggestions where I could use such a small boat around here without sinking it haha? I don't mind scooping some water out of the boat but can't afford to be swamped.

[Rollo]

For a trailer,one of the clerks at cty building will give you a form to get it inspected, I had to make an apointment to hav this done after they agreed it wasnt stolen I was issued another form that gave me the right to get the license tagsand show it as mine! what a money grab!Has anyone else had this experiance!