MO no title registration

[wdirnbeck]

Evening all. Recently I picked up a 1963 Glaspar Avalon with a 61’ starflite 3 75 horse on the back of it. I paid 200 dollars cash from a Facebook marketplace deal and only received a bill of sale from the seller who I believe was the grandson of the deceased original owner. The original plan was to use the boat as yard art but after a little cleaning out I fell in love with it and would end up spending the summer rebuilding the engine and getting the boat ready to hit the water. I now and having trouble getting everything (boat, trailer, motor) titled as I only have a BOS for it all. Seller is no help so title cannot be reproduced and Jeff City clerk told me that my other option was to approach a judge seeking a declaratory judgement to have the boat put into my ownership. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this route or by other loopholes. I’ve heard of people just saying it’s homemade and getting the title that way or by paying companies that can get it titled through states with lax titling processes. This boat is so old it predates the requirement of having a HIN and when I went to the DMV they couldn’t find any record of the boat given the number decals and registration sticker from 1986. So how do I get this ghost boat put in my name? I’ll take any feedback or experience unless you’re gonna tell me I’m SOL

 

[tpenfield]

1) keep as yard art
2) tell it to the judge
3) see if you can register it in a non-title state (are there any left?) and then later on register it in your state.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ted has you covered with the 3 steps

at the time of the original purchase, the executor of the estate would have needed to get a replacement title

this is why its important to get the paperwork done prior to spending beer money on projects.

 

[briangcc]

Ted has ya covered.

For the trailer, far as homemade....in my state, you need to produce receipts for ALL materials purchased in order to declare "homemade". Then, if I have it correct, it needs to go to a special inspection station for review where they would then issue a VIN for the trailer.

No idea on trying to title the boat as homemade - probably similar case.

Pretty much, in my state, they're trying to close the loophole many before have exploited.