Everyone I have talked to at the TP&W to a game warden have all said the same thing , all Texas outboards have to have a title. They also told me it takes up to 8 months now to get a bonded title . My question is how many times have you had to show proof of a title when a game warden stops you . All I have ever had to show is the card and the boat registration .I am trying to find a small outboard for my Jon boat and it is next to impossible to find one with a title . Wondering what they would do if you don't have one .

Zero. That's how many times I have been asked anything about an outboard. Game Wardens and US Coast Guard. Law says all outboards need a title in Texas, but it's just another PIA and another "fee" to raise cash. I wouldn't worry about it. Financing and insurance are the only reasons anyone would ever ask. Make sure your boat is titled and registered, though. I don't have ugly renewal stickers on my boat, because it's an antique, and I've been asked about that, and I have yet to talk to a GW that knows that antiques don't have to display them. They have to be carried in the boat, though. IslandJim

If the motor has never been titled, just file for a new title. The motor has been in storage since January1, 1994. You will have to submit a tracing of the serial number. A white piece of paper and a pencil rubbing to show the serial number. TP&W will use that to search to make sure it isn't stolen. I bought a small motor a couple of years ago and that is what I had to do. Yes, it takes time now.

Well after looking hard for a small outboard with a title for my 12 ft.Lonestar I decided to just go with a Minn Kota 55 trolling motor. I even looked at the cheap China motors on Amazon. Since we will be mainly using it in the coves close to the house at Whitney and there is a free ramp real close it should do fine for a crappie boat . Going down tomorrow to seal it up good with Gluvit on all the rivet's

and seal, then going to paint it . At least it has a clear Texas title. 1966 Lonestar 12 ft.

Going to paint the top Red, and add red and black seats. I got mt Tx numbers in red also here on TFF. Also got a Lonestar emblem in red coming . Will post pics later thus week .

marschall: If your title and registration are classified "Antique", you don't have to put the ugly stickers on the hull, just carry them in the boat. I haven't met a GW yet that knew that. It's printed on the back of the stickers. Mine's a 1958 Blue Star 14 "Super Chief", made in Miami, OK. Enjoy! IslandJim

bought the champion in branson mo. went to quitman office with boat in tow, handed all mo. paperwork over with all the tp&w stuff like weight etc.
had to go out and do a pencil tracing of the hin and took picture, ser # on mercury and it took about 30 mins.

we took all mo. paperwork to his bank and had signatures notarized as well as the bill of sale/temp. note on bal.


if you find one you want have them send a pic of the ser# and whole outboard, have tpwd run it for stolen and you will find out if it is hot and or has a title yet.

First Boat I ever owned and I inherited from my Dad. That boat would go anywhere. Would like to see it after you paint it.

You should have a lot of fun with that boat. I have a trolling motor on my 14.5 jon boat and it will go about 4 miles on one battery charge. I can’t wait to see the pictures of the finished boat and fish you catch from it.

Thanks Osbornfishing , here it is after painting it with aluminum paint. We also put some Gluvit on all the rivets and around the transom 1st . After filling it with water it only had 3 rivets'

leaking , not bad for a 1965 boat LOL.Then we painted the new cedar transom a red with marine red paint.I got my new Tx numbers here from Justin Brink , and also got a set of red Lone Star decals . Yesterday I broke down and bought a new Minn Kota Endura C2 40lb trolling motor . Going down Wednesday to finish it the fishing ! I will take some good pics

marschall: I'm attempting to attach a pic of my 14' flats skiff I made from a boat that looked like yours. I wanted a Technical Poling Skiff, but was $40K short of that, so I turned my tin boat into what I call a Low-Tech Polack Skiff. My trolling motor is an Endura 40#, and it works great. Have fun! IslandJim

Finally got it done . Still going to put a small motor on it, but for now have a new Minn Kota 40 and it does real good.

You have done a good job on a good boat. My Dad had a Lone Star back in the fifties and I remember many fun trips to Lake Wood in it. You will probably catch more fish in that boat than the fancy bass boat you will buy in twenty years from now.

Wow good job, you will have loads of fun out of that boat. Brings back so many memories when I fished with my Dad!