Boat buying question regarding liens

decee

Sorry if this is off-topic but I will be using the boat for hunting.

I just bought a used boat from a fellow in Kentucky. I live in Canada and consequently I am unaware of precautions one should take when purchasing a used boat.
He says I will get a Kentucky Boat Title with it.
How can I know if the boat is free and clear of any liens when I pay for it?

TIA

oldgunner

Decee, the only way I know of that he could have a title is that there are no liens. Anyone who finances one holds the title until it is paid for, so you should be fine. I hope it's a good boat, and that you enjoy it.

There are no bad guns, only bad people.

Big Sky Redneck

There are no titles to boats, the registration numbers are your ownership, the titles are only for the trailers. Also liens on boats are hard to enforce because of that.

oldgunner

7mm nut, I'm glad you posted. I thought I knew what I was talking about, but maybe not. I'm about to buy one, so you might have been helpful to me also.

There are no bad guns, only bad people.

n/a

Check out these sites. should answer all the questions

http://www.franklincountyclerk.org/Boat Titles and Registration.htm

http://oldhamcounty.state.ky.us/motorboats.htm

The following documents and information are required:
original title with assignment of title properly filled out
NOTE: Photocopies of the title document are not acceptable. Boats cannot be transferred if there are any liens on the title that have not been released. NOTE: Kentucky began titling boats in 1990.


One woman's opinion

JustC

Run a check through the DNR on the boat's numbers. Chances are, if it's not a large boat, it's paid for.

Boat titles are the same as car titles, except that they are filed with the DNR not the DMV. The DMV issues the trailer title. They look very similar, but the backgrounds are different colors (at least here anyway). Turn it over, just like a car title, and there is a section with a lien designation. If there is any signatures or institutions listed, and if there is no letter accompanying it stating it has been released, it has a lein. No info=no lien. Now, some of the older and smaller boats, made before all boats had to have hull identification numbers permanently attached to the hull, will not have titles. Any boat made after the year that law went into effect, (like 1976?) will have a title to accompany it's hull ID numbers. Just like a car.

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

nelchris

all states are diff.HERE IT HAS TO BE REGISTERED JUST LIKE A CAR AND TRAILERS DO NOT SO CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL COAST GUARD

Big Sky Redneck

When did they issue boat titles? its been a few years since I owned a boat, but I have had three of them and all three the only proof of ownership was the boat registration. I got the owners card in my name but no title, I was told by PA Fish and Boat Commission that was true nation wide, the only titles I ever had was to the trailer itself but never once was there ever a title to the boat, only the regisration and the numbers on the side live with the boat. Things musta changed in the last 5 years.

Big Sky Redneck

Ok, I just made a phone call and checked this, Boats made after March 31 1998 and any boat that has been transferred after that date has a title to it. If the boat is older than that or has not been regisered after that date, a title does not exist unless a certain state required it but no titles is VERY common before 03/31/98. Sorry is I gave bad info before this, it seems things has changed slightly.

Big Sky Redneck

LOL, where the heck did he live?? Here in PA up untill this change all you needed to do was go to a boat dealer or the couthouse and sign the registration over, if at a dealer he could do the trailer title also or you had to go to a notary to get the trailer title done. Pay sales tax and reg fee for 2 years I think on the boat(I may be wrong on that one) and up to 5 years for the trailer. In and out in less than a half hour. Sounds like somebody fed you a line or that state is rediculous.



Edited by - 7mm nut on 06/18/2002 12:50:03

RugerNiner

I don't know much about Boats, but if it Leans I wouldn't Buy it.

Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!

JustC

They hit me with the tax here in MD a few years back when I brought my 23' sea ox back from FL, with a FL title. However, they just asked what year, etc so they could look it up in the book and figure a value.

Sooo,..me being ever so helpful, I informed them that the 200HP johnson Ocean Runner engine needed to be rebuilt as it had melted all of it's pistons, and the trailer belonged to my father-in-law. therfore, we needed to only value the hull, which I was more than glad to also extend to them, the fact that it needed a new floor and the gunwhales were cracked from rain water sitting on the cover. I think we came up with a value of $1200

A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.

Alpine

Boats: Second best day of your life is then you buy one.
The best day of your life is when you sell yours.
Boy! States that don't have titles on boats were missing a great opportunity to tax you on this piece of personal property!
Well the powers that be don't like to miss a prime chance like this!

"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."