Boat Bill of Sale Form

A Boat Bill of Sale is a legal document used to transfer ownership of a boat from the seller to the buyer in exchange for a mutually agreed-upon price. As a permanent record of the transaction, it is used to prevent legal disputes over title & ownership, and aid in boat registration processes and future resales.

Keep in mind that boating laws differ from state to state, especially when it comes to age limits and safety education requirements. Be sure to check with your local state laws before buying, selling, or operating one.

All About Boats!

A boat includes all types of motorized or non-motorized vessels used on water, regardless of size, value, weight, or class.  Here are some common types of boats you can buy or sell using a Boat Bill of Sale:

Why Do I Need a Bill of Sale?

A bill of sale is most commonly used in private, as-is sales transactions involving second-hand or used boats bought for recreational or sporting purposes.

Even after the sale, if you need to prove title or ownership of your boat to a third party, such as a government tax agency or a potential buyer, you will be asked to furnish a Bill of Sale – so make sure to keep a copy for personal records!

If the boat is used for business or charter, a bill of sale helps you claim tax deductions, track depreciation, and prove the purchase for auditing purposes.

What’s Included?

Even in states where a bill of sale isn’t mandated, there are specific requirements for what a bill of sale must contain if one is provided. 

To be effective and legally enforceable, a Bill of Sale must contain the following:

• Date & location of the sale
• Buyer and Seller Info.
• Payment Terms
• A description of the Boat, such as make, model, and year of manufacture, etc.
• A description of the Engine or Motor, including horsepower, engine hours, and serial number.
• A description of the trailer (if included in the sale)
• Tax Disclaimer
• Legal Warranties 
• Pre-Sale Inspection Details
• Supporting Docs
• Signatures of buyer, seller, and witnesses (if any)

Lucky for you, our pre-standardized Bill of Sale template offers a fillable framework covering all of the above!

What We Offer

Our team of business document experts has developed a free, print-ready Boat Bill of Sale template with dedicated sections to capture all the key details needed for a smooth and legally compliant sale or transfer of a boat in the U.S.

You won’t have to spend extra time figuring out standard clauses or dissecting the elements of a boat sales agreement — we’ve done the work for you.

The best part? Our template comes in multiple formats! Download a PDF version, print it out, and fill it in by hand, or edit online via Google Docs or any Cloud-based file-sharing platform.

And yes, this template is 100% customizable. That means you can easily adjust each section to match the specifics of your transaction and the legal requirements in your state. Prefer a different font or layout? Use the editable Word version to modify the font style, size, or color to your liking.

Guide to Using A Premade Bill of Sale Template Like Ours!

Below, I explore each section of our template in more detail…

Buyer/seller information

Identifying both parties to the sale is crucial for legal purposes and future reference. Use our dedicated space to record the following as accurately as possible:

• Full legal names
• Postal address
• Email ID
• Telephone #

Note: Make sure all contact details provided are updated to avoid inconvenience or delays in communication later on.

Payment terms

Clearly state the full amount the buyer is required to pay to finalize the sale. Make sure this section is completed in full before signing, and avoid leaving any blank spaces that could be used to change the sale price. You will need this information to prove the paid purchase price when filing taxes.

Go on to specify your preferred mode of payment, such as cash, check, e-transfer, or a debit or credit card.

In case of non-monetary payments, for example, if a seller gifted or traded the boat to the buyer, you can use this alternate version of the template.

Boat-specific information

This section was designed to help you pin down the particular boat, motor engine, trailer, and other accessories or items the agreement extends to.

Now, let’s get into the specifics of each:

Boat

From small kayaks to large motorboats, boats come in all shapes & sizes. Note the following details as they apply to your boat:

• Type
• Make
• Model 
• Year
• Title Number
• Hull Identification Number (HIN)
• Registration
• Color
• Length

Motor or engine

If you’re buying or selling a motorized vessel, you may be required to provide information about the engine. This can include the engine’s make, model, horsepower, fuel type, and more. 

Here’s how you might fill out those details for a boat motor/engine using our template:

• Make: Yamaha
• Year: 2021
• Model: F150XB
• Horsepower: 150 HP
• Serial Number: 6CRX-1023541
• Engine Hours: 245 hours

Trailer

It’s common for sellers to sell a trailer as part of the agreement. For those who don’t know, a trailer is used to transport a boat over land, usually by towing it with a car, SUV, or truck. Our default PDF version only allows you to add details of two trailers. You can use an editable version to add more, if needed. 

Here’s how you can customize this section to your trailer:

• Make: Enter the name of the manufacturer (e.g., Load Rite, Karavan, EZ Loader).
• Year: Provide the year the trailer was manufactured (e.g., 2020).
• Model: Include the model name or number listed on the trailer’s registration or identification plate (e.g., LR-AB14T).
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Write the unique 17-character VIN stamped on the trailer’s frame — this identifies the trailer for registration and legal purposes.
• License Plate Number: Enter the current license plate number, if the trailer is already registered with the DMV.

Feel free to use our separate Trailer Bill of Sale to finalize the sale of any non-motorized trailer from a seller to a buyer!

Taxes

A Boat Bill of Sale ensures proper reporting, prevents over-taxation, and protects you during audits. Use this section to clarify whether the paid purchase price is inclusive of government taxes or not. 

If taxes are included, go on to specify who is responsible for paying them: the seller, the buyer, or a third party. If the boat is a gift, taxation (if any) and registration fees are typically based on fair market value.

Prior inspection

Before finalizing the sale, most buyers have the boat inspected by a certified marine surveyor who performs a detailed inspection of its structure, systems, engine, and overall seaworthiness.

Check the first box if the buyer has decided to waive this right, agreeing to buy the boat in its current condition. Check the second box if the buyer chooses to exercise their right to a pre-sale inspection, further indicating when the inspection took place. 

Note: In certain states, inspection may be required by law.

Warranties & disclaimers

From a legal liability point of view, this part is crucial as it clarifies the scope of the seller’s duty to the buyer after the sale or transfer.

If you choose the first option, it indicates that the boat is being sold as-is, that is, without any warranty or guarantee. In such cases, the seller is not obligated to repair or fix the boat after the sale.

If the seller does provide a warranty, check the second option and then specify the warranty duration (in years) in the space provided.

Use the space below to clearly outline the scope of the warranty, specifying which parts or aspects of the boat are covered.

Supporting documents

The right documentation adds credibility and protects both parties from potential legal disputes in the future. For this reason, it’s important to clearly name and accurately label each document to avoid confusion or misrepresentation of facts.

Here’s a list of supporting materials you can attach to a Boat Bill of Sale:

• Certificate of ownership
• Registration certificate
• Maintenance records
• Operating manuals
• Proof of payment
• Warranty statement (if applicable)
• Boat insurance documentation (if insured)

Other accessories

If other accessories are part of the sale, list them in the blank space provided. 

Common accessories typically included in boat sales are:

• Battery and battery charger 
• Safety gear: Life jackets, Fire extinguishers, First-aid kits, etc.
• GPS/chartplotter
• Depth finder/fish finder
• Compass/Radar
• Anchoring and Docking Gear
• Boat covers
• Cooler seats or bench storage
• Navigation lights
• Maintenance gear
• Fishing gear (if applicable)
• Engine accessories

Verification

This is your last step of the formal process involving sale or transfer of the boat in question.

To make the document legally binding, both parties must add their dated signature, acknowledging that they have read and accept the terms & conditions laid out in the document.

For extra verification, you can have the document signed by a witness. Our default PDF version allows you to add two witness signatures to the document. 

Notarization (optional)

Some U.S. states require that the Boat Bill of Sale be signed in the presence of a Notary Public to make the transaction legally valid. While notarization isn’t always mandatory, it’s highly recommended, especially when dealing with high-value boats or when required by your state’s boating authority or DMV.

Notarization adds an extra layer of legal security, helping to prevent fraud and ensuring that both parties can be held fully accountable under the stated terms of the agreement.

You Might Also Be Interested In…

• Jet Ski Bill of Sale Template
• Trailer Bill of Sale Template
• Aircraft Bill of Sale Template
• ATV/Snowmobile Bill of Sale Template
• General Bill of Sale Template
• As-IS Bill of Sale Template

Interesting Facts About Boats in the U.S.

Let’s explore some interesting facts about the boating industry in the U.S.:

• A bill of sale is not required at the federal level when buying or selling a boat. It is mostly only required by state or local authorities when registering the vessel or transferring title. 
• With over 11 Million Registered Recreational Boats, the U.S. is the world leader in recreational boating!
• Some states, like Delaware and Rhode Island, don’t charge any sales tax on boat purchases, making them popular registration states.
• In most states, boats are registered through the wildlife or natural resources department, not the traditional DMV (e.g., in Florida, it’s the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission).
• It is illegal to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs in all 50 states.