BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return calls.

[Lund_bC]

So I just bought a boat off a guy that was sitting in a parking lot down the street. It is a fixer upper for $600, anyways I don't know much about buying a boat, so we went to ICBC to insure the trailer and I thought that was all there was to it, I got a gift letter for the trailer as he threw it in for free.

So anyways, he tells me all the paper work is in the package signed, so now he isn't writing back of the boat licence or whatever you need.

the boat is just a an old piece of junk that I want to fix up but I can't licence the boat without a bill of sale, it was not in the papers, so I don't have one.

My only proof I bought this off him is a trailer that fits the boat, so I have his address, I can't see it being something someone would steal and go threw the trouble, but who knows many years ago.

Do you ever get asked for the paperwork for a 15ft junker by the RCMP or something ? Is there anything I can do to protect myself from trouble, this was only about a week ago i bought it.

Thanks

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

...I don't know much about buying a boat... Is there anything I can do to protect myself from trouble...

The best way to protect yourself is to go with the seller to the Title Office, and do not hand over the money until the government accepts the paperwork and issues a new title in your name.

Unfortunately that info is a week too late in your case.

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

The best way to protect yourself is to go with the seller to the Title Office, and do not hand over the money until the government accepts the paperwork and issues a new title in your name.

Unfortunately that info is a week too late in your case.

I did go an insure the trailer and, as I had no clue there was even a licence thing in BC for boats, I know they ask for your card that proves you know how to drive a boat (new thing in BC) and your fishing licence, just not sure how often they bother asking for ownership proof in BC Canada.. on a little 15ft boat.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

I am not familiar with BC laws, but if the boat has numbers on the bow you will likely need to register it also.

Edit:
US = Register
same as
BC = License

 

[Captain Losten Confuzed]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

This may not really help you at this point. But if the guy does not return your calls, then bill of sale is nothing more than a scrap piece of paper. If you bought the boat from who you believed was the owner, and now cannot reach the owner all you have to do is get another piece of scrap paper. Who is to say that the real owner ever really sold you the boat or who is to say that the real owner signed the bill of sale.
Uncle Willie is right you should have met him at the title office.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

If you are stopped on the water by the police for a safety check, they may ask for proof of ownership and registration/licence. Without those it could get "awkward"

 

[ricohman]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

Either you get him to give you a proper bill of sale so you can transfer the title and the registration number on the bow to you or you can't use the boat.
You can always contact Service Canada and inquire who the last registered owner was. Does the boat have its numbers on the bow?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

not sure about BC but in ON you only need to license if over 10HP
my inflatable is rated for 15hp but only ever had oars before I bought it
how I did it in ON (dunno about BC), was to explain that the boat never had a motor larger than a 9.9hp on it before so was never licensed, even though it was 25 years old.


With a bill of sale, you can maybe get a lic that way with new reg numbers....maybe... you might just get a lot of blank stares and cud chewing across the service Canada counter too... I think it took me 4 trips to the place..9 to 5 welfare recipient couldn't even spell my name right...2 digit IQ all the way... it was like a scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High or something..pathetic

you are at their mercy (in their opinion)

My first response to any used boat seller on Kijiji et al: "does it have a current license in your name"

another boat I bought, the seller signed the bill of sale with his nickname, not full name matching the license... I had to mail the lic back and forth to him so he could sign it with the same spelling....90 minute round trip drive to service Canada office too- hope the "service" is more literal in your area

 

[joed]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

Boat registration is federal in Canada.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

http://www.tc.gc.ca/wwwdocs/Forms/84-0172E_1204-05_E.pdf

couple of options there - depending on whether boat has a hull ID or not - if not, I might just call it unlicensed and start fresh
also could be "home built"
Due to recent changes in the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, pleasure craft licences are now valid for
10 years. If there are changes to your name or particulars of your vessel or address in that time,
you must update your licence
Canadian pleasure craft licenses are now valid for 10 years now? news to me...
there is a "renewal" box too - I have a couple to renew

 

[TDuff]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

When I picked up my 14' Lund, it had never been licensed. Just fill out the form and mark the box/section "not previously licensed". If it was in the past by someone else other than the previous owner, you'll find out from Service Canada as they will then have the hull ID number on file.

 

[oops!]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

you just need a paper bill of sale for the boat.... the trailer you can register as a u built....

according to icbc....a trailer can be built from "parts i had laying around

where are you?.... i have a buddy that does boat registration all the time.

cheers
oops

 

[TDuff]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

you just need a paper bill of sale for the boat.... the trailer you can register as a u built....

according to icbc....a trailer can be built from "parts i had laying around

where are you?.... i have a buddy that does boat registration all the time.

cheers
oops

It sounds like he's already taken care of the trailer, it's the boat registration he's concerned about.

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

It sounds like he's already taken care of the trailer, it's the boat registration he's concerned about.

Umm..I think this boat is very old the guy didn't put it his name and so on, he might be gone and thats why he doesn't return my calls, at present, as you can use the boat for 90 days before you have transfer the licence, I will just carry the paper work from the gift letter that say he sold me the trailer and in the comments section I wrote trailer was given with sale of boat for $600. That should cover me, maybe I will write the numbers on the side on the paper, at least i have people that saw this transaction and one works at the marina where my boat is docked.

It's an old beater of a boat that needs lots of work, maybe I should just start fresh with it somehow, like remove the numbers on the side and say its homebuilt ( it looks like it was) and move on, not sure.

thanks for the input.

 

[oops!]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

like i mentioned... i have a buddy that does boat registration all the time.

if you need a hand.. let me know.... im in kelowna

 

[Lund_bC]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

please check your private message box ! thanks

 

[pootnic]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

What size outboard are you putting on it?
Like mentioned above,a license might not be necessary.
On a side note,I've never seen a RCMP on an inland lake at this end of the country and only once a DNR guy checked my boat,for the proper gear and that was on land...never asked about the license or even the boaters coarse,etc...

 

[oops!]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

What size outboard are you putting on it?
Like mentioned above,a license might not be necessary.
On a side note,I've never seen a RCMP on an inland lake at this end of the country and only once a DNR guy checked my boat,for the proper gear and that was on land...never asked about the license or even the boaters coarse,etc...

they are on my lake every day....

 

[Part-time]

Re: BC, Canada - Just bought cheap boat, no bill of sale and seller won't return call

In Canada, doesn't mater what province (it's federal, not provincial), a boat with 10hp or greater has to be licensed not registered. Registration is only optional for pleasure crafts but mandatory for large vessels. Also, licensing is free, registration has a small fee.
Licensing is not a proof of ownership.
Also as of 2010, the license expires after 10 years. I believe it's a $250 fine for not having the proper paperwork with you in the boat.
If you don't have all the necessary paperwork to transfer the license you can claim it as abandoned, you just need a signed affidavit (an extra form that can be downloaded from this site).