Notarized?

Of course, most states have different requirements for boats and trailers, but in general do titles and bills of sale need to be or ought to be notarized?

And, doesn't the seller only, not the purchaser, really have to be present when his signature is notarized on the title or bill?

Just trying to avoid hassling with the registration/licensing folks. Don't do this everyday (and glad of it).

JJ,
Each state is totally different in what they require for transfer and reg. This is a question for your local DMV. For example, when I sell a new boat in CA, I don't need an notarized MSO, when I sell in HI they won't even accept a shipment without one. Check with the DMV.

True. For example, the political subdivision SOUTH of here requires no registration or tag on trailers under 2,500 lbs, IIRC.

All boats appear to need registering except those that are "human powered."

However, in NC, all boats under 14' are not required to register and all trailers are. (And a reputable trailer hitch installer told me that was the reason so many trailers get swiped and moved to SC).

But, my question was more about notarizing -- which is having a notary public stamp and sign off as a witness to a bill of sale.

Having a valid bill of sale is a good thing, no question. No matter the various mind-bending state-to-state regulations.

Just wondering about the buying experience. Many have titles, bills of sale, or whatever notarized; or just written a check, gotten a receipt, hitched up a boat, and driven (happily) away? Must be a lot of variety!

(One semi-interesting side note is that most trailer manufacturers appear to issue a "bill of origin" that looks like a title, whether the state that it is sold in requires it or not. The bill of origin is like a first title and is "surrendered" to a DMV in order to get a title and tag -- if the state requires titling.)

Also, kind of curious if those who do a lot of traveling from states where no trailer license tag is required to states where one is required have ever been stopped?

...I hate this kind of stuff.

Maybe the Democrats will save us from it with one, large socialized bureaucracy! uh huh

no notarization needed in Fl.

Also, If the non-motor powered vessel is less than 16 feet in length, it is not required to be registered or titled. However, if the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be titled.
(IN FL)

I registered a boat in NC back in the early 90's(nacra 5.2), an I did need a bill of sale notarized. But I seem to have done it all by mail, which kinda defeated the purpose. I was then able to transfer registry to SC where i lived at the time. SC requires more paperwork for boats, but nothing for a trailer. NC will stop you on the lake and check your stuff, been there done that. Ive even been stopped(or rather approached) by a DNR officer out of the coast of Myrtle Beach. He was in a Jon Boat and I was beam reaching the 5.2. He told me to stop, I played dumb, he left after a few minutes of "high speed dueling"

JJ, btw we are doing a distance race the saturday after newyears here in Columbia, come on down

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.

How long do you think it will be before we have a NATIONAL registration or a User Fee to use the water for recreation? They (Congress) are discussing a National Fishing License from what I read in fishing forums so it can't be far away.....

I can see a declaration of "Marine Park Sanctuary" and you must pay to enter regardless of the activity.

Greg

Wasn't there talk recently about all small craft having to carry a transponder? I think I saw that on SA.

Since when?? Unless it's changed I thought the threshold for reg. was more than 21ft.

This is state-specific. For no logical reason, sailboats over 8 feet must be registered in California. The DMV folks get so confused that I have a boat with no motor.

I actually had to argue with the DMV in CA to register my F18. They were telling me that I didn't need to register it. I assured them I did, showed them the regulation and made them take my money. I had to have a valid registration to get a spot in the city boatyard. Whattapain.

Hi Mike, i dont know if it has changed. i was told this when i first got my hobie 16 in 1999...

and we dont have to reg... its a title that we need:

Florida Vessel Owners:
The Facts and Figures

http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/vslfacts.html#4
Exemptions From Registration - non-motor-powered vessels
Exemptions From Titling - non-motor-powered vessels less than 16 feet in length

Yes, CA DMV are quite random in what they tell you. I had all kinds of issues registering my 7 yr old T from an out of state seller. They couldn't get past that it had never been registered in the states for those 7 years (RI didn't require it). Eventually I had to get a security bond issued on the sale price tp protect the DMV in case the boat was ever reported stolen. Then to get the actual reg numbers, had to have a harbor patrol guy "inspect" the hull for a registration number...there was only a builder's hull number, matching my builder certificate from seller. They wanted more digits and said all boats coming into the US had to get a coast guard assigned hull ID. Then had to spend a few weeks tracking down the original importer (Fun In The Sun in FL) and they got me a hull ID.

I now have it all sorted, bu I hate the fact I have to carry reg numbers & permit sticker on my hulls...it looks rediculous when I show at a major T fleet regatta in Texas/FL/etc and I'm the only one with these things. Top teams cringe at putting anything on the bows (drag & makes the boat easier to call over the line at crowded starts). I started putting the numbers/sticker on the boom...but my local harbor patrol scolds me regularly...I'm sure he'll charge next time I'm caught.

Actually, RI DOES require all boats over 14 feet to be registered, motor or not. Anything with a motor, no matter how small, must also be registered.

Of course, no one enforces this for small sailboats (CG, local harbormasters, etc.), which is why I was the only one in my fleet for years and years with registration stickers on my H16.

Registering them actually helps when it comes time to sell, especially if to someone in a state that is more enforcing. Otherwise, you're in a paper chase for a cert of origin, etc. One good thing about Hobie Cat is that this can be obtained fairly easily through a dealer, although it can take time.

Mike

Yes California is a major pain. Problem is, whenever I show up at a local lake here the State Rangers get pretty wound up if there's no CF numbers on my vessel.

I went into a lake in central cali and had to take the covers off my tiger to show the decals.

Why were you sailing in the lake with your covers on?

Quiz of the day:
Is this a kayak or sailboat? Do I have to register it in CA?

you have to register it in Kansas...considered a sail powered craft. Put a sail kit on another yak and it doesn't count...go figure.

No notarization is required in Kansas, it's a no title state, all you need is a bill of sale. No sales tax is paid. A trailer, with boat, whose total weight is under 2,000 lbs requires no license.

Boat registration cost for a sticker lasting three years is $35. We do all this through the Division of Wildlife and Parks, along with the fisherman and hunters.

They pass on this info to the county in which you store the boat, and the county sends you a nice bill each year for "personal property tax".

I was driving in the Front Gate at the lake. Its 300 miles for me to get to a regatta , So I Bought some really nice Chip Buck Trailerable covers for the Tiger. Now its all clean and prety when I get to the lake.