I bought a jon boat about a year ago and the guy I bought it from did not have it registered so he did not have a card for the boat, the boat is a late 1970's model and I have no idea when it was last registered.  DNR wants a notarized proof of purchase which I have but there is no way I will be able to track the person down that might have a registration card.  Is there any way around this?  Will a proof of purchase be enough to get my sticker?  I mean certainly I am not the only one that has run into this problem before (or am I).  Any help would be great, I follow the Georgia State rules.

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

One of the disadvantages of buying older boats, especially aluminums that may have just been used on private property on a farm pond is the lack of titling or registration information with the boat.  I bought a boat that had no title and neither did the trailer.  The trailer is homemade, that's easy enough to take care of but the boat would've required the guy I bought it from to title it in the state he was from, Illinois and then pay any back taxes.  Considering I only paid $150 for the whole rig, that just wasn't going to happen.  I now basically fly under the radar when I fish out of the thing.  

I think I remember a couple threads (probably from other states) here that they had the same issue. They ended up getting the hull numbers and jumping through hoops to get it registered.

You might want to just call the state, tell them yor situation, and see what you can do to get the boat under compliance.

Thanks guys, what a pain in the %$*^# I will never buy another boat without having some paper work.  Unfortunately I payed much more than $150.00 so I guess I will call and plead my case.

Calling and pleading your case will do nothing to solve your problem. You will have to give up your first born and then, still, you will have to track down the original owner. Good luck as you are not the first or the last to make this mistake.

NEVER, EVER PURCHASE ANYTHING W/O THE CORRECT PAPERWORK.

Thank god I live in Kansas.

We don't have to title boats or motors. Just have to have a bill of sale (not even notarized!) to get it registered.  8-)

Georgia Process just about the same as Texas...

Hinesville/Fort Steward GA 3 Boats. Neither had title in hand.

pm sent CGH

In Maryland it ain't so bad.

I titled and registered my old canoe that I bought from from someone else and has not been used in years.  I titled and reg because I wanted to start using a trolling motor on it.  IIRC, I just went down to my DNR office, told them the situation, told them what I paid for it, filled out the forms, submitted a trace of the hull id number, paid my fees, and they issued a title and registration.

No problem.