I'm shopping for a used boat here in Texas. Nothing fancy, I'm on a poor mans budget. Spending between 2 and 4 grand or even less. I'm finding good deals, but I keep running into the same problem. Titles. They have the title for the boat, but not the motor. In Texas we title motors.
I went to Texas department of wildlife to register my motorized kayak and asked them a question about buying a used boat.Because I'm new to the boat buying thing. I asked, If I found a boat with no motor, should I wait to register the boat after I find the motor I want and do it all at once? They said NO. Register the boat within 21 days or there will be late fees. So then I asked, I have to register the boat, then the motor separate from the boat? They said no, you just have to Title the motor, Register and title the boat.
My question is. If one of these deals show up again, why cant I just register the the boat and go on about my business? All you need to have with you on the lake is a boat registration. The lake cops aren't asking to see titles. The titles are at home in a safe. The only problem I can see is when it comes time for me to sell the boat sometime in the future. By that time, I might have a new motor with a title, or have done a title search and went through the months of bureaucracy to get it signed over. Either way I'm on the water fishing out of my new boat. Am I missing something where I absolutely need a title on the boat AND motor immediately? I now know many people out there running untitled motors hell They are trying to sell their boats to me. I mean I can buy a boat with no motor, get it registered and transfer title. A week later my buddy gives me a motor that's been laying around for years. Slap it on and your on the water. Right? Whats the difference? I know what the law says, but really? Opinions?

Go for it.

There are so many selling them without the title because hardly anyone will buy one without it. If you ever want to sell, you will have problems also. If they can't provide a title, I wouldn't pay more than what the hull alone was worth. You may never get caught as they may never check, heck I have only been checked by 1 game warden in 30 years. If they want to know, they can run the required card they can find out if it has a titled motor on it. It is like any other law, think you can get away with it, do it but if you get caught don't complain about the price.

in your price range, go for it

seems to me the only issues would be resale and insurance, and the very slim chance that it was stolen

I went through this with a generally reputable dealer and manufacturer of small pontoon boats. The dealer did not do their homework when they agreed to give the seller cash and then resell (to me). They did not get the title transferred into the dealers name so I couldn't title in mine. And who knows how the boat moved from person to person untitled either legal or illegal. Man I went through circles with the State of Texas to get the thing titled and couldn't. Finally I got to the point where I returned the boat and motor to the dealer. Though I understand you wanting to not worry about it, I just could not run around in a boat/motor combo that was not titled. What was the chance I would be checked, probably pretty small. But I wanted the rig legally titled and insured in my name. I can't understand why previous owners did not title? Was it stolen merchandise? Who knows. With a serial number you can track who sold it and probably who it was sold to. I did that and discovered from Mercury who the wholesaler and retail dealer were but it was never titled.

What year did they start titling boats and motors? It seems a dealer selling new would do it for the first person like they do for cars but after that who knows.

I�m interested in this too.

Went to TPWD and re-title and register the boat. Had a bill of sale and the old title signed over. No problems.

On paperwork I just left any questions regarding motors and fuel blank.

Depending on the age of the motor, it may have never been titled. There is a TP&W procedure for getting a title. I did it about 15 years ago, and it wasn't a big deal.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boa...and-or%20Registered%20Through%20TPWD.PDF

https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications...ffidavit_of_facts_for_identification.pdf

I bought an old pontoon without a motor title. The lady at TPWD department said some junk but basically unless they think you stole the motor or you want to sale it you wont ever need the title. I just register the boat every year. Ofcourse they want you to title it, they want that money. It's a process to go thru to title it but it can be done also.

Its pretty crazy how the state's rules are on marine titles... One time I found an aluminum john boat at tbe metal salvage yard...it was like brand new and they offered it to me for 80$....just to be sure i called TPWD to ask what needed to be done....they literally told me that the salvage yard would have to pay the TT&L to register and title it in their name before i could buy it and do the same...This would have been about 225$ they would have to spend inorder to sell it for 80$

I thought you said you found that boat in the lake?

Only when you want to sell it!

If its 94 or later, you need to title for it to be a legit sale.