[sureicanfish]

picked up the boat Dustcover was giving away, its a 78 collins craft, 15ft. from what i gathered, dustcover is'nt the original owner. i've run the hull number on some coast guard site and it didn't pull up anything. i'm almost positive the title is very lost. has anyone had experience in registering a boat without a title? couldnt i tell them i built it and leave the hull number out all together?

 

[Shakedown]

You will need a notarized bill of sale even though you paid nothing for the boat. If the boat has been registered at all, and if the previous owner registered the boat, the tax collector should be able to trace the chain of ownership to the individual who gave you the boat through the boats registration and hull #.

 

[sosmarine]

It is possible. A friend told me his story a few years ago and said it was alot paperwork and waiting. But for free it will be worth it.

 

[wld1985]

I've done it and it's easy.. Just dont give out my details too much I send them in a PM... I would do it again.. You've just gotta trust the person/persons...

 

[wld1985]

ya.. the PM wont go through I'll keep tryin it says your not found????

 

[bamasam]

You could sell it to someone that lives in Alabama, whitch doesnt require title and them sell it back to you with Alabama registration then Florida would issue a title, Hummm now who do we know that lives in Alabama.

 

[sureicanfish]

all good info folks, the last time the boat was registered was 1997!!! yikes. as far as pm'ing me, keep trying, i am a member... anyone know what the regs would be IF i did say i built the boat?

 

[bamasam]

Doesnt matter in Alabama all that is needed is a bill of sale.

 

[wld1985]

Ya I dont get it.. I cant send PMS.. so send me an E-mail ...

[email protected]

 

[X-Shark]

My advise to you is do not do any work on the boat until you have the title in your name. I know it's tempting, but you could be wasting your time & money, as you do not technically own the boat right now.

 

[johnsonbeachbum]

go here

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/data/past.html

it will take a few weeks via snail mail etc.

But you will recieve a print out of all previous registered owners in Florida anyways.

Then you can make an attempt to back track for a clear title. Or at least get the previous registered owner to declare he lost the title.

At which point he will have to apply for a replacement title so that it can be properly signed over to you.

If you do a bunch of refurbishing to the free boat and he finds out, he might report it stolen and send the cops to you for retrieval.