Re: Outboard title
What TD said. There are states that title outboards and if that is a requirement in Ohio, buying a motor without one, is a gamble.
Additionally, some states also allow you to note the make and serial number of your outboard(s) on the boat registration. In such states, a motor sold with a boat, when that motor is still shown as being "attached" to another boat, can cause problems.
When in doubt, contact the agency in your state that registers/titles boats, trailers and motors. If the seller doesn't have the required paperwork for each item, I recommend that you either consult an experienced title clerk, to see if the problem can be overcome, or pass on the deal.
BTW, in some states, you can register a boat as "home-made." The degree of difficulty in doing that, hoewer, varies quite a bit. For example, here in Louisiana, you can no longer do that, unless you can produce receipts for all of the materials that you used to build the boat. While this issue doesn't impact your situation with the motor, keep it in mind for future boat purchases. Once again, it is best to check with the appropriate agency, before buying something that may become little more than a "decoration" in your yard.
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