I see on here every now and again people looking to buy a boat with no title. Just about every duck hunter in here will tell you to walk away if there is no title in hand. I agree with them and here is why. Ok well I came in possession of a pontoon boat with the intentions of loading it with 5000 it with 5000 lbs of building materials and towing it to the island. I found out real quick, towing a boat like that sucks. It just plain inefficient at best. two trucks, two trailers, two boats equals not at all efficient. Not to mention the winds and tides give you fits all the way to and from the island. So one day a stripped down pontoon boat with just a motor and console, loaded with materials zipped past me like I was only going 5 mph, oh wait, i was only going 5 mph. I decided to title the boat, put a motor on and be way more efficient with time and money. I put a new deck, console, motor, hot dip galvanized the trailer, new axles, tires and wheels.

Here come the title Bullsmack. No title with the state of Texas. You call them, they send you the packet. All has to be sent via certified mail. A form goes to the Sheriff of the county where the boat is located. You get a return stamped letter and add it to the packet. A letter to the on state record owner asking to release the lein, certified. You get a return and add it to the packet. Fill out an affidavit stating how you came about the boat, add to packet. Take a pencil tracing of the hull ID number and add that to the packet. There are some other forms I am forgetting as this was seven months ago I sent in the packet. So the state gets the packet, they list the boat as abandoned on their website for six months, YES SIX MONTHS! Once that is done they reveiw you packet and approve or deny. Once approved you must purchase a security bond through an insurance company , pay all the title transfer fees and pay for the title. After completion they mail you the title and stickers. Its a minimum of a seven month ordeal.

So that is why when people tell you to walk away, it is best to just walk on away.

Yep, not worth the trouble.

Yep. It's also a bit tricky if you buy a boat in another state then try to register it in Texas. Make sure you have ALL of the paperwork you need and EVERYTHING gets signed in the right places.

Clerk in TPWD office said just don't buy a used boat out of state. Sad they have it so screwed up in Tx.

BTDT with a boat and a motorcycle
Never again

Maybe for parts. Big maybe

I already have enough trouble sleeping

Should have just bought an old dirt cheap boat with title and registered it then used boat tags on pontoon boat, much easier than going through all that crap.

I have owned boats all my life, have two currently and I am on the water either fishing or hunting most of the year, never once have I ever been asked to show my registration card to any game warden ever.

The thing is I didn't buy and would not have bought one because I already knew getting title was such a PITA. I helped a guy broke down on the road and told him he could leave the boat at my place while fixed his trailer. He never came back for it. I was just going to use it as a tow barge but that isn't at all fun nor is it efficient. Knowing I was heading into a pain the hinder I decided to just do it. I swear they make it so difficult I believe they are just trying to discourage people from doing it. NOw that I know the ins and outs and how to get through it, I still won't go through that Horse.... again.

??? I've bought multiple out of state and never had a problem.

I see threads on boat, car and trailer titles and registration occasionally and it makes my head spin every time. There has to be a better way.

I agree. I started this last November. The last step was to purchase a bond through an insurance company and send that, the fees and the paperwork. Any week now I should get the title in the mail. Super duper pain in the hinder!!!

I do boat loans for a living. Probably 3 or 4 a month from outside the state of Texas going into the state of Texas. No issues. Make sure that you have a title signed over to you by the seller, and a signed and notarized bill of sale. Done. Buying from a state with no title? The registration has a place for the seller to sign the boat over to the buyer. It's very easy. If you are buying an out of state boat and want to make sure that you are doing it properly, contact me. I'd be happy to help.

Very nice gesture Unclebubba!

Update! My title finally came in the mail this last weekend. Hooray! It was about an 8 month ordeal.