NJ boat titling question?

[reelmess]

I was given a boat the other day, it's from the early 1960's or so and it's not been registered or used since at least 1970. Its been stored in a farm building since at least that time. The problem is that the owner can't find the title, only the last registration. He gave me a notarized bill of sale, on which also states that the boat sat since 1970. I have the 1970 registration card for the boat.
DMV won't except that.

The problem I see is that NJ doesn't appear to have had boat titles back then, they law requiring titles in NJ didn't take effect until 1987. That tells me there probably never was a title.
At this point I've had a hull inspection done since there are no numbers on the boat at all, other than the registration numbers, which match the old paper registration. I was told that I need to take out several ads looking for the original owner of the boat, which is insane since I have a notarized bill of sale from the last registered owner. The 1987 law says that boats 'purchased on or after June 1, 1987 over 12" in length are required to be titled. This boat was purchased at least 15 years prior by that owner. Meaning that the titling requirement falls on me, not the old owner.
The old owner isn't in good enough health to go to the DMV for a title and all that fuss. I wouldn't expect it of him. He did exactly what was spelled out on the old registration card in order to transfer ownership, plus got the bill of sale notarized.

My question is does anyone remember what the deal was back in 1987 when the law was passed? If you were running a boat with no title, over 12', did they make you get a title? How about if it's been parked long before the law?
Why would they want me to go about an abandoned vessel search when they full know the last owner? - Who also happens to be the original owner.

 

[produceguy]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

I dont know what the deal was in 87 but have you tryed contacting Game and Fish or does the DMV title your boat? In AZ, Game-n-Fish titles the boat and DMV titles the trailer.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

I dont know what the deal was in 87 but have you tryed contacting Game and Fish or does the DMV title your boat? In AZ, Game-n-Fish titles the boat and DMV titles the trailer.

North Carolina has a similar process. We call our Game and Fish the "Wildlife Commission". They do the boat titles; DMV does the trailers'.

They're a lot slower than DMV but they're a lot friendlier too.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

NJ has had boat titles before 1987. My '74 boat I purchased in 1980 has a title. I do not remember if the boat before that had a title, however. BTW - I am a NJ resident for 50 years....

There should be a way to apply for a duplicate title at the MVC, however, the original owner may need to do this, and then sign it over to you. The other path might be to get a salvage title or a homebuilt title. You will likely need to find a knowledgeable, sympathetic ear at MVC, to figure it out. This might be hard to find.

There is an info lady at the Eatontown MVC. Maybe someone like that can help you. I cannot imagine the boat is worth much. That should help your cause.

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

I'm from Jersey and currently going through the process. There is a "light at the end of the tunnel". Here is some advice; tell D.M.V. that you are trying to obtain ownership of an abandoned boat. It's a long and tedious process. You have to be a certain kind of person to do something like this. It's not cheap and requires a lot of paperwork. Take a look at the boat and ask yourself if it's worth it. New Jersey D.M.V. did a title search and found nothing. Now I have to contact the four surrounding states and pay them each $20.00 to do a title search. MAKE SURE THE BOAT IS WORTH IT!!!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

After thinking about it more, I needed to provide info to MVC so they could generate a title for my '74 boat that I bought in 1979. Somewhere between 1974 and 1979 NJ started to require boats have titles.

 

[W_Guy]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

There might be another way around NJ's quirky way of doing business. Find another state that will accept the documentation you have and get a title from that state (probably can be done through the mail). Then turn that title into NJ and they should issue you a title here.
You'd have to pay for two titles but it might be easier in the long run.

Verne

 

[joe_nj]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

I don't think that I have a title for my 17' boat in NJ - just a registration card - that's all they issued last year as I recall when I bought the boat in connecticut and registered it in NJ. The website does say you have to title boats over 12 feet. But it sounds like you've been through the discussion with them.

 

[reelmess]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

The original owner isn't able or willing to go through the ordeal of getting a duplicate title, which I'm pretty sure never existed in the first place. He may well have no proof of ownership since it was bought so many years ago. Who saves receipts for 50 years or so, especially if at the time there was no reason to. The boat is nice but not anything special, but as a free boat that really don't need any big money dumped into it it's a good deal so long as I don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a title. I'd part out the boat first.
There are no homemade titles issued here for factory boats since they do a hull inspection on nearly all boats these days. The NJ State Marine Police do the inspection, at that time they run an NCIC check and check for prior owners. This boat comes back with no history, it's been off the books for too long. According to the MP, there's no previous owner or title on record. The boat has only it's original registration numbers, no hull id number or serial number.

I suppose I could use an out of state title service, but I've heard of others having trouble getting that paperwork converted to a title here.
I really don't see why they make such a big deal out of boat that probably has no value and hasn't been on the water in over 40 years. Its not as if it's a high theft item, plus I have a notarized bill of sale for the boat and the old registration.
They have all but told me that it's the former owners responsibility to get a title so he can legally transfer the boat to me. Any other route according to the DMV will require a court order and lengthy title search process. One of the required steps is to take out four ads in newspapers surrounding the former owner's address, the same address as on the old registration and also where I picked up the boat from the former owner. I see that whole process as a waste of time. Chances are the original owner will be dead and gone by the time that process if over. I can't figure out why they can't just accept the notarized bill of sale as proof that the original owner sold the boat to me. They already told me that there's no title on record for this boat. It's not as if its an abandoned boat with no history or paperwork.

 

[jollymon]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

correct me if I am wrong. You have a letter from the legal owner, for a non titled vessel, saying that he gave/sold you the boat. You have the last good registration for it. I think the only thing you are missing is a sign and noterized bill of sale.

If you local motor vehicles can not help you call or go to Trenton.

 

[W_Guy]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

OK, so maybe you can try another approach since you don't want to get an out of state title, then re-title it here. Since there were no titles issued when the boat was originally purchased (just a registration), just show them the bill of sale and turn in the old registration and ask for a transfer of registration to your name. It sounds like you really don't need a title for a boat that old. You could start out by asking them that very question.

 

[jollymon]

Re: NJ boat titling question?

NJ has a process for getting a title for boats owned before the Boat Ownership Certificate Act. The information is found at the following web site: htp://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/Boats.htm

The form you fill out is:http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Vehicles/OS-SS-27.pdf I know you bought it recently, the previos owner had prior to titled boats. Fill out the form and have a noterized bill of sale.