Buying a new boat

Will be meeting with a person to cash purchase a boat, this is my second boat to purchase and the last one was years ago. He has titles to motor, boat, and trailer. What all does he need to sign and what forms do I need to take with me to have him sign. I will test drive the boat prior to purchase what are some things you wish you hadn’t over looked when buying your boat? What are some things I need to look at? It’s a blue wave with a 4stroke Yamaha.

Go to your local TPWD office and propose this question to them. When I do that they highlight all forms and paperwork in orange for the seller to fill out and blue for the buyer to fill out. Have never made more than 1 attempt to get it correct when done this way. The trailer will have to be done at the local tax office, not through TPWD.

Are you carrying cash?
Be on alert and don't get pulled over.
I got pulled over in Pineland, let the cop search the car, I had $20,000 to buy a boat the next day. It was confiscated, and took a year and a half and six grand worth of lawyers to get it back.

Most of the time you test a boat in the daytime. Check the lights on the boat and the trailer. Some issues are minor but shorted wires can be bigger problem. People that never go out after dark or before sunrise rarely if ever check those lights.

Inspect the wiring situation under the console. Take note of any extra cables that aren't connected to anything and ask about them.

If I was going to buy a used boat like that, I'd have a marine mechanic give it an inspection. Fortunately the last boat I bought, I had the entire history of the boat because it was forum member's boat and he chronicled every single aspect of the boat on the forums (and he babied it).

In addition to the clear titles for both the boat and the motor, you will need 2 forms from TPWD...form PWD 143M for the boat and PWD 144M for the motor. Those serve pretty much as the bill of sale and transfer papers. Never buy a boat without a clear title. In my younger, dumber days I bought a 12 ft jon boat with only a handwritten bill of sale. I was never able to get the title, so now it's at a stock tank at a buddy's ranch because I can't use it on public waters.

Wow, what a headache! Scary to think that happened right here in Texas(USA)! I used to spend a lot of time in the Pineland area hunting and fishing. Thanks for the heads-up!

I would take pics of the serial #'s on both the boat and motor and have them run by your local TPWD office.If clear the title's signed over for both should do it,the other paperwork will be completed by them during title transfer.I've never had trouble going this route

Outside of the paperwork that the guys meintioned above, Tap on the transom carefully make sure it’s solid no hollow sounds. Inspect the entire hull to deck connection. Do a compression test for sure. Check steering and inspect wiring in the bilge. Good luck !