Boat on Property I Just Bought - Needs Title

[mendo707]

Good Day Everyone! I just acquired a piece of property and there is a Bayliner open bow boat in Very Good Condition left up there on a perfect trailer. The guy who I got the property from said he had no title for it and it was given to him by his mother in law who hadn't wanted it any longer. Hasn't been registered since '12. Question is: what do I need to do to get a title for it in my name? Is that possible? Figured it should be since it was on the property I just bought. California by the way. Thanks in advanced. I tried google but wasn't making much sense to me.

 

[midcarolina]

Every State is different some really difficult and some not...... look up the DMV I am sure they will have guidelines and procedures for registering in a case like yours.........But I am sure it would be much easier if you can deal with the last known titled owner first.

 

[turbocorrado]

im not familiar with cali, but in delaware they dont really title boats, just a registration card you keep in your wallet and thats it, its also only good for 1-3 years so you have to go back to any boat facility/marina that can issue registration. when transferring owner ship, you need a "bill of sale" from the last registered owner. so if cali is similar, the easiest way would be to get a bill of sale for boat and trailer and have his mother in law sign on the sellers line

 

[southkogs]

Look here: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsinfo/boattransfer.htm

The way I read it, you need to get a title. Dunno' the process for CA, but I'm sure the DMV can push ya' the right way.

Welcome aboard.

 

[GA_Boater]

You probably need to claim it as abandoned property. I would start with the county for guidance.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

..... Question is: what do I need to do to get a title for it in my name? Is that possible? Figured it should be since it was on the property I just bought. California by the way. ......

Unless someone from California comes on here who went through that exact process and can tell you to do A, B, and C, any advice you get will be nothing more than internet hearsay. Unfortunately each and every state has their own way of handling boat titles/registration, not to mention how they handle claiming abandoned property.

One thing is for sure though, don't put any money into that boat until you have a title/registration in hand with your name on it.

 

[Brian 26]

I would try very hard to get a hold of this mother in law. Maybe offer her money to go to the DMV and get duplicate titles.

I'm sure there a legal process you can go through with the state but I think you'll be swimming up stream.

 

[mendo707]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have a friend who rebuilds air cooled VWs and he says he knows what to do as far as an automobile goes. He has done it multiple times with old bugs, vans, and other air cooled vintage cars. I think I might just go into DMV and see what they say. Seems like it should be fairly easy since it was just left on the property and is not registered to the previous property owner so i would assume I can claim it as abondaned. I work pretty much 7 days a week and moving atm so it is hard to get down there. For sure not going to put anything into the boat until I can get some paperwork... The boat is so nice that it would be a complete waste to just let it go.... Only thing I can find wrong with it so far is that all the seats have tears in there but thats it until I can try to fire it up after an inspection and see if it runs fine.

 

[jbcurt00]

Does the California DMV still have online appointment booking? It's been nearly 15yrs since I lived in Marin County, but even then I drove north into the next county to avoid my local DMV. The 35-40min commute each way was SIGNIFICANTLY better then the 2.5-3hrs wait if you didn't book an appt.

I didn't know they had the booking service until just before we moved. And it might have had a small fee to be used. Well worth it IMO... Esp if you're regularly pressed for time M-F 9-5p.

Good luck

I think California police will haul it off if you notify them it's abandoned, but if you WANT to keep it & fix it, then definitely go to the DMV before you even consider touching it.....

 

[UncleWillie]

If the registration expired in 12, it may have been last run as far back as 09. 5 years.
If it does not have a cover over it, and the plug is still in, the innards may be a rotted out. Is the Bow UP?
Inspect it below the floor, if there is standing water in there, think twice about putting money into it.
If it was stored with the drive in the UP position, The Bellows are going to need to be replaced.

 

[tpenfield]

Since the registration is not that old and you know the previous land owner, then that might be your best route to get some paperwork to get a title in your name. But, like the previous post said, unless the boat has been well covered, it might not be worth your while, as it could be rotted out down below.

 

[Watermann]

In WA State we have the County Sheriff come and do a hulk vehicle inspection on the abandoned vehicle or anything with a State license for that matter, it would have to be done for the boat and trailer. The Deputy fills out the form with the vehicle info, last registered owners name, address and then gives you the form. You have to send a letter to the last RO and if they don't respond in 30 days the form the Deputy gave you is now the legal title for the vehicles and they can be put in your name.