Every title is not in seller's name

[alldodge]

And you're dead wrong about the title proving ownership...all you need for that is possession of a signed and notarized title and notarized bill of sale in your name.

you can purchase insurance without the boat titled in your name, if a claim were to arise it could make things complicated.

Good grief

 

[drewm3i]

Good grief

You can. Done it (bought insurance on a new to me boat, that hasn't been titled yet) many times when trailering, transporting, or storing new to me boats.

My point was to say that as soon as the legal agent who possesses the title, whether they've registered it in their name yet or not, gives you the title for an agreed upon sum that is codified and notarized in a Bill of Sale and on the title itself, it is yours.

 

[stresspoint]

Depends on state.

yea , was not to sure how that worked in the USA when i read it.
it does seem logical that the boat is in retrospect just the hull.

here in Aussie land , when we do builds ,
we generally take the boat for HIN plate and licensing just before fitting out , that way it only required to pay duty/tax on what is sighted "market value", the more missing the lower the market value is on the hull .
trailer is a separate entity , used motors are not taxed.

 

[Earl Cordova]

Some states don't have titles, like Tennessee, just a registration

In Arizona only the trailer has a title.