Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

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rsteaples

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I found an abandoned boat in a parking lot here in Houston, TX. It will be towed by the city very soon. I checked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and they have no record of the boat ever being registered in Texas. I'd like to keep the boat and rebuild it (it's a real junker now). I found the 'owner' but he wants nothing to do with the boat. He bought it cheap with the intent to rebuild it but lost interest. Unfortunately, the person he bought it from wasn't the owner either. In Texas this is called a skip transfer, and although it's common enough to have its own name, there doesn't seem to be any way to resolve the fact that an ownership trail does not exist. The boat is now in limbo. The boat can't be bought or sold because it doesn't have a title.

Does anyone have any advice on how to legally take posession of the boat? I read the Transportation Code on abandoned vehicles, and there appears to be no way to swing this. The only one who can move the vessel is the City of Houston, and then it will be sold at public auction. The storage and processing fee charged by the city will be more than the vessel is worth. I could tell a few lies, falsify some documents, etc. but I'm not willing to do that. I'm looking for a legal way to demonstrate that the boat is abandoned and to take posession of it. Finders Keepers...
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

in Fl we register them as home made. it's a little white lie. it gets a new id number. and hull number.
 

Texasmark

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Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I had an alum fishing boat sitting around the place for 25 years. A guy wanted it and I gave it to him. PWD has the forms and the process for doing it whether it's abandoned, or the title is lost, or the registration is long expired.

The forms are on the www.

HTH

Mark
 

J FISH

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Joined
Nov 18, 2006
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Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I told TPWD that I had a 91 motor in the family since it was new on my grandpa's place and was privately used, so there was never a reason to get a title.

The ran the numbers and found that it was never registered as I stated so they had me do a couple of documents and a pencil tracings of the serial number. That was good enough for them and they did the deal.

I would stay away form the word "ABANDONED" and go with something like, "been in the family before titles were needed. If I can get a good title then I will fix her up other wise why don't you (TPWD) run by the house and haul her off for me!"
 

90skichallenger

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
234
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

rsteaples said:
I found an abandoned boat in a parking lot here in Houston, TX. It will be towed by the city very soon. I checked with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and they have no record of the boat ever being registered in Texas. I'd like to keep the boat and rebuild it (it's a real junker now). I found the 'owner' but he wants nothing to do with the boat. He bought it cheap with the intent to rebuild it but lost interest. Unfortunately, the person he bought it from wasn't the owner either. In Texas this is called a skip transfer, and although it's common enough to have its own name, there doesn't seem to be any way to resolve the fact that an ownership trail does not exist. The boat is now in limbo. The boat can't be bought or sold because it doesn't have a title.

Does anyone have any advice on how to legally take posession of the boat? I read the Transportation Code on abandoned vehicles, and there appears to be no way to swing this. The only one who can move the vessel is the City of Houston, and then it will be sold at public auction. The storage and processing fee charged by the city will be more than the vessel is worth. I could tell a few lies, falsify some documents, etc. but I'm not willing to do that. I'm looking for a legal way to demonstrate that the boat is abandoned and to take posession of it. Finders Keepers...

ok dude might not be too hard.
1. You need a signed bill of sale (handwritten is fine) from the person who currently owns or possesses the craft.
2. houston does not care about the boat .seriously they would be fine if it disappeared. SO once you have a legal bill of sale or gift(if the guy just wants it gone). Once that is in your possession borrow a dealer tag (legal) or a valid trailer plate(not so legal but very common). pick that sob up and drive it home.
3. If the title search is a bust. you can do a few things. Like the man says do a little chop work to make it your own and register as home built. or you can contact the manufacturer with the vin # and they will tell you what state the boat originally went to. You can also have a nationwide title search conducted for you by an outside agency. It sounds like the boat probably was not registered in TX.
anyway once the boat is in your yard that opens up time and options.
well good luck and if you have more questions write back.
L8R
8)
 

BLLDOGG

Seaman
Joined
Nov 13, 2006
Messages
70
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

here in Oklahoma, I am going through a title company right now to get mine and they deal with abandoned vehicles/boats. maybe someone like that could help you.
 

lifeisfun

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
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304
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

Wow, I hope he got it by now ...2 years later :)
 

billdivins

Cadet
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Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

Apply for a bonded title. The Texas Parks and Wildlife website has some info.
 

bhammer

Ensign
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Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

Maybe by now, 2 years later, he has the title issue worked out. Heck, the boat may be seaworthy now. :D
 

redeye1962

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
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Messages
319
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I have a similar problem. I bought a boat a few years ago and since lost the title that was not in my name. We did not have a bill of sale. I sent the returned certified letter to our wonderful state for a bonded title and was refused. I am not sure what to do. Let me know what works. :)
 

cdnfthree2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
402
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

All this info is really interesting. When I was given an aluminum 14' boat in Rockport, TX. , TPW told me that there was no way to title it again without contacting the owner and since there was Zero info on the boat(no TX numbers or anything) they said the only way that boat could be used is with a paddle! I do recall though that they said if I were to go further inland, I might have a chance. Something about too many abandoned boats down there whose owner's magically pop up after being retitled.

Anyways, I have a 16 1/2 ' boat whose previous owner had lost title. The 70hp motor blew and the transom was rebuilt to accomodate a 90hp. That made it a homeade boat and was retitled as homemade.
 

hubbard53

Petty Officer 1st Class
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212
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

heh, nice necro post (reviving a long dead thread)
 

redeye1962

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I was under the impression a state inspector had to look at the boat to make sure it was indeed a homemade boat. How did you get by that process? Has anyone experienced the company from ARK that will buy your boat and then sell it to you to get a title?

FYI with the wonderful state employees we have this will be a popular post. :)
 

cdnfthree2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
402
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

The guy I bought it from didn't give too many details other than it had been an 18'boat with a 70hp and finally it was a 16.5' boat with a 90hp. There is no possible way that this boat was actually home made-It was a very professional job and one of the best wide bow hulls I've ever seen. I tried to identify it for two whole years with no luck. Finally, I found a few shops that suspected it to be a WellCraft and a few others that swore it was manufatured by an older company in Victoria,Texas. To this day, No hull id, no known manufactuer. But this '72 is definately not home made. One mechanic said that the hull could be shot several time with a large caliber rifle and still not sink. Said the hull was worth more than the motor. I'd love to know what it actually is. As soon as I figure out how to post a pic I'm gonna find out.
 

dbrannon79

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 22, 2009
Messages
36
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I see this is an old thread, maybe someone out there still reads/responds to these!
I have a boat that I picked up for parts, but I'd like to get it registered in texas. I have the title id card with the origional owners name and address on it, but I think I have a slimm chance of contacting him to get the title. the transom needs to be replaced and it also needs other fiberglass work. if that work is done and the transom beefed up, can I title it as a homemade boat? even though it was a manufactured boat?

also do I need a title for the motor? or can I run any motor on it?
 

dwhite1031

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
130
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I work for a Texas state government agency and one of my co-worker's wives works for TPWD. I was talking to her about this very subject when I got my new boat registered and she said one reason Texas has gotten more stringent on non-titled or abandoned boats is that there have been numerous incidents of abandoned boats after the hurricanes of the past few years. That is more than likely why one poster was told to "try further inland". And as also posted, there have been incidents where someone abandoned a boat, someone else got it titled, and then a relative of the "abandoner" surfaced wanting "Dad's boat" and it was a legal mess. This also happens with trailers and motor vehicles and Texas has made changes with that regard as well.​
 

62larkowner

Seaman
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Jul 29, 2009
Messages
64
Re: Any Way to Title an Abandoned Boat in Texas?

I had an alum fishing boat sitting around the place for 25 years. A guy wanted it and I gave it to him. PWD has the forms and the process for doing it whether it's abandoned, or the title is lost, or the registration is long expired.

The forms are on the www.

HTH

Mark

i'm curious what that web sight is i have a 12 ft aluminum delhi it shows regesterd but never titled,last taged in 1989 , uncle bought it from a garage sale for 20 bucks did some glasswork to repair it ( he used it in a private pond )then recently gave it to me and i want to get tags so i can use it with a motor,

ne ideals ? tpwd is givin me a run around
 
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