Registering a row boat in Indiana.

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dlundblad

dlundblad

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I have a 1960ish Sea King (made by Montgomery Ward) fiberglass row boat. The girlfriend and I want to register it for putting a small motor on and trolling around various lakes. I called the BMV and they said I needed a bill of sale and my drivers license. The only issue is, I bought the boat back in 2007 from a old high school teacher who has since retired and moved so I don't have a bill of sale. The courthouse wants $140 for registering and I am too cheap to pay that. I would be better off buying a better boat and asking for a bill of sale during the purchase. I am pretty bummed.

Rant over.
 
I thought that if the motor was under 10hp you did not have to register.

That's why you see 9.9 HP motors.
 
In Indiana IIRC, you need registration on anything with a motor. Gas or electric. If I am not mistaken, the 9.9 hp engines only come in handy here for a minor without a boating license course certification. 10 and over you need the certification and a license. That's the way it was when we got our ski boat.

I guess I should recheck the laws though for clarification.
 
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I agree with making up a bill of sale if they do in fact require registration.

I would also find out what the fine is if you do not get the boat registered at all. If it is small and there are rarely LEO's on your water then skip the registration....but then again I am kind of a rebel.
 
After thinking it over, I think I'll have my dad make me a bill of sale. Just a father selling a boat to his son. Seems pretty legit. Technically he was the one that bought it for me anyways.
 
So you don't own the motor yet? Use its bill of sale. They might want to know HP of your boat when you register it.
 
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
After thinking it over, I think I'll have my dad make me a bill of sale. Just a father selling a boat to his son. Seems pretty legit. Technically he was the one that bought it for me anyways.


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Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Make up a bill of sale, all they want is their money.

Check the laws, I know here boat under 10HP does not need to be registered.


I would tend to agree, make up a random name and a sold date years back.. a simple generic sales reciept..

Or.. sell the boat to someone else, and take the money and apply it to a newer nicer boat..

I own 5 different John boats of different sizes.. i dont have a reciept of bill of sale for a single one.. however they never go anywhere but my lake so im not worried..
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
So you don't own the motor yet? Use its bill of sale. They might want to know HP of your boat when you register it.


As of now I just have 5 yr old rear mount electric motor. Nothing too special.. it just beats rowing.

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Make up a bill of sale, all they want is their money.

Check the laws, I know here boat under 10HP does not need to be registered.


I would tend to agree, make up a random name and a sold date years back.. a simple generic sales reciept..

Or.. sell the boat to someone else, and take the money and apply it to a newer nicer boat..

I own 5 different John boats of different sizes.. i dont have a reciept of bill of sale for a single one.. however they never go anywhere but my lake so im not worried..


The DNR is hit and miss at our lake. Normally its a guy on a jet ski who sits at the far end just watching the tubers and skiers. The camp ground is in that area too. Public access and our channel is on the other end, but I am sure id get caught. Haha.
 
Originally Posted By: dlundblad
Originally Posted By: eljefino
So you don't own the motor yet? Use its bill of sale. They might want to know HP of your boat when you register it.


As of now I just have 5 yr old rear mount electric motor. Nothing too special.. it just beats rowing.

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Make up a bill of sale, all they want is their money.

Check the laws, I know here boat under 10HP does not need to be registered.


I would tend to agree, make up a random name and a sold date years back.. a simple generic sales reciept..

Or.. sell the boat to someone else, and take the money and apply it to a newer nicer boat..

I own 5 different John boats of different sizes.. i dont have a reciept of bill of sale for a single one.. however they never go anywhere but my lake so im not worried..


The DNR is hit and miss at our lake. Normally its a guy on a jet ski who sits at the far end just watching the tubers and skiers. The camp ground is in that area too. Public access and our channel is on the other end, but I am sure id get caught. Haha.


pretty lucky myself, im on a private mile long lake, no worries, no public access..
 
Registration requirements differ from state to state & often change over time. The "under 10 hp" rule must have been very widespread, since they began selling the 9.9 hp rule-beater outboards over 40 yrs ago.

Currently, in Texas no reg needed for my 15' Grumman canoe so long as it's paddle-powered- but the rules were once different. In fact, when I bought it used in 1969 or 1970, the riveted-on factory ID tag had been removed, because the laws back then required it to be registered strictly due to its length. I believe the old law required reg for anything over 14 feet long. These days, so long as there's no motor, there's no problem.

My outlaw canoe!
grin2.gif
 
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