Titiling And Registering A Canoe (Questions For Those Who've Done It)

[Jack Jones]

So I emailed the DOR this week because I was a little bored. I advised I was planning to put an electric trolling motor on my canoe later this year and asked about the process to register. The first response I got was:

"

1. Yes, the unit must be titled and registered if it is powered by anything other than paddle or oar.
2. You will need to have an inspection completed on the unit (http://dor.mo.gov/forms/798.pdf).

a. Due to the fact that you will have to have the inspection, the paperwork will need to be processed through the central office in Jefferson City."

So I looked at that particular form online and asked a question to clarify the process further. They responded:

"

Once the inspection is complete you may either hand deliver the paperwork to Jefferson City or you may mail it. If you apply by mail you will also need to include a title application (http://dor.mo.gov/forms/93.pdf)."

Wish they had told me about that form earlier too. So finally, I emailed again, pointing out that the back of form 798 states that "THE INSPECTION PORTION OF THIS FORM MAY BE PERFORMED BY ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EXCEPT THAT 1985 AND NEWER MODEL VESSELSMUST BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED AGENT OF THE MISSOURI STATE WATER PATROL, MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, OR MISSOURI CONSERVATION COMMISSION."

What I want to know is how does one arrange for an authorized agent to inspect a canoe? I don't know where to begin on that one and the DOR couldn't answer that one either. Also, in looking at the application for title, I dont even have most of that information since I don't know the name of the person I purchased it from and I paid cash. Also don't know when the canoe was manufactured. So if anyone has done this before, please help.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I applied for an abondoned Title registration for a flat bottom boat. I did not know the year of the boat, it was the last 2 digits of the serial number. Maybe it is the same for canoes, I'm not sure.

I had to set up a time with the highway patrol to inspect the boat and to give me the last known address of the last registered title owner. Here in the St Louis area, they have a few locations that they will be at and do the inspections on site. What they do is look at the watercraft, record any serial number/registration numbers etc. Look up on thier computer to see if it was ever reported as stolen, and if it was ever registered. They will give you the form #798, (at least in my case, it was not available online). I had to mail a letter(Form 5227) to the last known owner, and wait 30 days for them to respond. Im my case, the last registered owner moved, and I could not locate them. I had to then, mail the request for title to the State of MO with all of the requirements on the second page of form 5227.

Here is a link to the highway/water patrol to set up for an inspection

http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/WaterPatrol/serialNumberVerificationStations.html

at the bottom of the page is a link to the State of Missouri for titleing watercraft.

Fair warning, once sent to the State of MO, it took about 2 1/2 months to get my title in the mail to be able to get my stickers, which I could not get from my local license bureau, I had to mail for them seperately. Once you recieve them, you will also get a boater card (Separately) which you are required to have in your possesion while operating the watercraft while under power.

[Jerry Rapp]

does anyone else see how stupid the government is?

[Jack Jones]

Thanks Daryk. It does seem like quite a bit of trouble. I checked that serial number and if it's the same as your saying it looks like this was from 1989. My recollection is that the boat was at one time registered in Minnesota. There was a sticker on it, but that was ten years ago. It changed hands at least twice since then if I remember what the person I bought it from said. I imagine that the only last known registered owner would be up in Minnesota. I don't recall the name of the person I bought it from. I paid cash. If they did give me a Bill of Sale, I've since lost it.

Was the boat you titled actually abandoned Daryk? In my case it's not really a piece of abandoned property. Just no known title or Bill of Sale.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I would "find" a bill of sale, age by the serial, and call the county agent and see if you can meet him somewhere.

[Flysmallie]

Call the Highway Patrol Troop D headquarters in Springfield. They will get you headed in the right direction. I went through this process with a friend a few years back. I think we ended up having to take it to Kimberling City to get it done but we just made a fishing trip out of it. It's not that bad of a process, you just emailed an idiot.

[Justin Spencer]

Probably easier and just as cheap to pay a fine if you ever were to get stopped, which depending on where you use it you may never. Play dumb once and you probably get a freebie. If they made it easy then by all means do it, but it won't be, and I doubt law enforcement cares anyway.

[Jack Jones]

I suspect you're right about that Justin. Most likely I'd be on the James, Lake Springfield, and Fellows with it. Potentially the Gasconade. I'd also like to try Pomme De Terre at some point. Never fished there.

Unfortunately, my employer is a stickler about such things and would notice if my name came through with a ticket. It would cause me issues. So, sadly, I'll have to do it right or not at all. I'll call Troop D in the morning.

[exiledguide]

If this was not really happening it would be really funny. I agree with Jerry Rapp...............Jack you're not writing a script for Monty Python and testing it on OAF? I keep thinking about the dead parrot..................

[fishinwrench]

If the "vessel" has never been titled before then the process is a piece of cake.

If it HAS been previously titled then you might as well just buy a different "vessel".....cuz a 600 dollar canoe ain't worth the frustration you are headed for. Been there/done that/and learned from it.