Opportunity to restore an old boat but no title

SEC132

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Dec 15, 2019
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Hello everyone. I’m new here and have the fortunate opportunity to restore a 1961 Lone Star Bay Harbor but the person I’ll be getting it from has no title. She bought it as is to use as a playground piece so she didn’t need a title. I went to the TPWD website and found out it was last titled in 1985 and a lein from a bank that no longer exists. I’d really love to be able to restore her and then proudly show her off. What should I do?
 

alldodge

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Depends on your state, check with office which registers boat. Many states are different, as example, in KY need to sign an affidavit that you and/or others have had the boat for at least 7 years
 

SEC132

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Texas is different. Not sure how they handle leins by banks that have closed their doors. Or even if I could get an antique title.
 

jbcurt00

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Texas is different.
Thats an understatement ^^^
​​​​​ Not sure how they handle leins by banks that have closed their doors. Or even if I could get an antique title.

Best bet is to physically go to TPWP and ask in person.

I suspect its possible, but probably a long frustrating road....

Good luck w your hunt for legal ownership of the new to you Lone Star. Spend some time if you want, working on it, but dont spend much money until you gain legal, titled ownership.

FYI, others have posted here that its taken a couple years to get titles and ownership resolved in Texas...
 

ahicks

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Sep 16, 2013
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I'm thinking simple solution here as well. Maybe as simple as having a sheriff deputy stop by to have a look at it. He'll copy down the serial number and run it to make sure it's not stolen, then give you an inspection report you can use to start the new title process. May take some time, but if you're restoring it, you likely have a lot of time available!
 

GA_Boater

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Howdy, SEC.

Don't call the Sheriff. TPWD handles boats/outboards, county Tax Assessors do trailers. Getting more agencies involved will only complicate things.

Your best bet is to travel down I-45 from Willis to the TPWD office at 350 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 100, Houston, TX or another closer office. Take any and all paperwork from the seller. They've been helpful when I registered boats in Texas. Hopefully the lien is longer in effect. Bear in mind, no title in Texas is going to run you through the wringer.

Is the Lone Star sitting on a trailer? Your Montgomery County Tax Assessor is the place to go, again with any paperwork.

Take care of the boat first, then the trailer. If worse comes to worst, you can get another trailer. But you can't get another 1961 Lone Star Bay Harbor.

As JB said, don't go spendy fixing her up until you have legal ownership or you might be building a playhouse. Good luck and hope you won't be waiting years for legal ownership.
 

SEC132

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Dec 15, 2019
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She’s just selling the boat hull. I’ve done a search on the TPWD website and it says the registration expired in 86. And showed a lein from a bank no longer in existence. Here’s pics of it.
 

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Big Gee

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Jun 29, 2011
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Looks like an interesting project. I hope the ownership documentation goes well for you. :nod:
 

CNT

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Aug 26, 2019
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Don't call the Sheriff
Agreed! Do NOT involve police for minor things, basically only contact them if life threating situation. I learned my lesson.

Let other said, drive to DMV or wherever official office, and straight it out there.
 

H20Rat

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Agreed! Do NOT involve police for minor things, basically only contact them if life threating situation. I learned my lesson.

Let other said, drive to DMV or wherever official office, and straight it out there.

always depends on your jurisdiction, but I have had to have highway patrol troopers inspect numerous vehicles for titling purposes. (had a run of snowmobiles that I bought without title.)

The process was the HP had to inspect it to make sure it had working headlight/tail/brake, as well as record the VIN. Only recently the HP has outsourced that service to private shops throughout the state, so you just take it to one of the places they list, hand them $20, and they record the vin and sign off on it.
 

jbcurt00

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Fellas, unless it was in Texas, personal experiences elsewhere are irrelevant and are not helpful to SEC132.

please refrain from posting irrelevant info....

So far GA's the only 1 to mention his specific experience in Texas.

Lot of work ahead SEC132 to bring that particular boat back to water ready condition.

The pix show a trailer, but its not part of the deal?

A hull that big, needing the amount of work it likely needs, w no trailer, should be basically free or she should pay you to haul it off for her.

Might dig thru some resto topics for big older glass boats before committing. Lits of good topics detailing what its gonna take

The resto will be a challenging endeavor that could make the legal paperwork problems seems easy to solve (which it wont be) in comparison.

Good luck
 
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