In Indiana, a sale from a dealer does not need to be notarized, but a title transfer from an individual does.

Trailers have to registered, sail-only boats do not; but alledgedly all vehicles (including sailboats) have to pay excise tax, which is collected at registration. No one at the BMV could explain this discrepancy, so I said screw it!

It is surprisingly simple to become a Notary Public. $15 to the state, and $50 for a 10-year security bond, plus the cost of your "Seal". Anyone can do it, and the bond & seal can be purchased on-line as a kit. It's one of the stupid, archaic, legal hold-overs from the time when most people couldn't read or write, and signed their name with an X. The Notary Public certified that it was John Smith who made that X.