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TEXAS REGISTRATION AND TITLE
All motorboats and all sailboats 14 feet in length or longer operated
on public waters or docked, moored, or stored on public water must
be currently registered, properly displaying authorized numbers
and validation decal, and titled. All outboard motors must be titled.
Title applications and manufacturers statement of origin (MSO) must
accompany a request for boat registration for new boats and outboard
motors.
Exempted vessels --All canoes, kayaks,
punts, rowboats or rubber rafts (regardless of length) when paddled,
poled, or oared and sailboats under 14 feet in length when windblown.
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TEXAS CERTIFICATE OF NUMBER
When a vessel which is required to be registered is in operation,
the certificate of number (registration) must always be aboard and
available for inspection by an enforcement officer. The certificate
is valid for the two-year period shown on the certificate. When
a certificate is renewed the same number shall be reissued, if application
to the Department is made within the 90 day period preceding the
expiration date.
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HOMEMADE BOATS
Requires affidavit of the person as to the origin of the boat, proof
of the materials used in the construction of the boat (i.e., bills
from marine and hardware dealers for parts, etc.), and requires
each homemade boat to be inspected and certified by a Texas Parks
and Wildlife (TPW) game warden. Inspection fee - $25.00.
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HULL IDENTIFICATION AND MOTOR SERIAL NUMBERS
No person may intentionally or knowingly destroy, remove, alter,
cover, or deface the manufacturer's hull identification number.
No person may possess a vessel with a hull identification number
or an outboard motor with a serial number that has been altered,
defaced, mutilated, or removed. A person who has a vessel or an
outboard motor with an altered, defaced, mutilated, or removed hull
identification number or serial number must file a sworn statement
with the Department describing the vessel or outboard motor, providing
legal ownership, and stating the reason for the destruction, removal
or defacement of the number. This statement must be accompanied
by a fee of $25.00 and an inspection certificate from a game warden
stating the vessel or outboard motor has been inspected. This section
does not apply to vessels with a valid USCG marine document.
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DISPLAY OF YOUR NUMBER
The number awarded a vessel must be painted on, or otherwise attached
to each side of the vessel, near the bow, in such position as to
provide easy identification. The number shall read from left to
right, be in block characters of good proportion not less than three
inches in height and be of a color that contrasts with the background.
The numerals must be separated from the prefix and the suffix by
hyphens or equivalent spaces such as the following example: TX 0123
AB and TX-0123-AB. Federal and State law prohibits any other number
from being displayed on either side of the bow of your boat. The
validation decal must be affixed in a line with and three (3) inches
towards the rear of the boat from the registration number.
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TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP
When a boat and/or outboard motor is sold, the seller must complete
a Form PWD-143, Application For Texas Certificate of Number/title
for Boat when selling a boat and a Form PWD-144, Application for
Texas Certificate of Title for an Outboard Motor when selling a
motor. Application forms may be obtained from TPW offices, Marine
Dealers, and some County Tax Assessor/Collector offices. The forms
must be completed by both purchaser and seller. If titles have been
issued, the title assignments must be properly executed.
The purchaser must: (1) Execute applications, which include a tax
affidavit,for registration and titles (boat and motor); (2) Mail
applications, assigned titles or bills of sale with required fees
and tax to TPW; (3) Applications for transfer of title and ownership
must be filed not later than 20 days from date of purchase.
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LOST OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATE OF NUMBER
Fill out Form PWD-143, check the space marked "Duplicate,"
and mail to this Department together with the appropriate fee. It
is illegal to operate a motorboat without a certificate of number
on board; therefore, care should be exercised not to lose your certificate.
No one other than TPW is authorized to produce a Texas Certificate
Number.
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