I am getting mixed answers from folks and the internet. I hope y'all are better at this.
My father-in-law has a 25HP Johnson outboard boat motor. It is a 50th Anniversary Edition so it was made in 1972ish. He has had it for many years, sitting in the shop.
He is going to sell it to a neighbor, does it need a title?

In '72 most or nearly all small outboards didn't have titles issued

Just because it didn’t have a title doesn’t mean it won’t need one. I’m no expert but I do know some states don’t title motors and If you purchase a boat in that state and bring it back to texas you have to show proof of purchase to get a title in texas. I have no idea if this applies here. Your best bet would be to call tpwd and ask, I believe they keep track of all boat and motor titles in texas, even if not they can direct you to the right people to ask.

my boat motors have titles. But I have never needed the title. never called for except to sale. way for state to gain a buck.

In New Mexico, there is no title for motors when registering. I have bought boats from texas and sold a boat to a texas resident. For the boats I bought, I have a title in in my gunsafe that MVD didn't want and told me to hang onto if I ever sold the motor or boat/motor because the next owner may need it. The boat I sold in Texas, the boat and trailer had a title but not the motor. I told the guy it may be an issue because in Texas it is a requirement to have a title to the motor to get it registered. We did a bill of sale, I explained in a letter where the motor came from and how it did not come with a title. I told him to call me if he needed anything or had any issues with getting it registered in Texas...... I never ever received a call from anyone. So I am assuming the letter and bill of sale were enough to get the boat registered in Texas for the gentleman.

The boat I sold was an old jon boat with an older mudmotor for duck hunting essentially. Those older motors that first came out (gen 1 mudbuddy) were a little more difficult because they were essentially just lawn mower motors rigged up to a long tail with a prop. Its not like the ones today that say marine all over them and state for marine use. So the MVD in Texas may have been a little more lenient with the gentleman because of the type of motor it was. Hope this helps, but I am sure there is a way to have a title made if there is not one for the motor.

this will tell you what to do.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/boating/title-registration-id-requirements