Buying a boat that's not registered. Help!

Pineapple Express

Well-Known Member
I'm going to look at a boat tomorrow that's not registered. The boat is a 1992/1993 Boston Whaler Rage (a Yamaha powered jet-drive boat)., approx 13ft long.

The owner says that the boat is not registered. He's owned it for 10-12years, which seems to be accurate because I've seen the boat around kept on a mooring buoy in Howe Sound a few times over the years.

Is it a problem to buy a boat like this that's not registered? How do I check to see if it's stolen or has a lien placed on it? Can a lien even be placed on a boat that's not registered?

It's a rare boat and there aren't many around. With the crappy CDN$/US$ exchange rate buying one in the USA is a spendy proposition, so dealing locally would be nice. On the other hand I don't want a headache with a sketchy boat down the road.

Thoughts???
 
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