I finally found what Texas sucks in!
 

So I was going to buy a 1967 Montgomery Wards Crysler Seaking 9.2hp outboard from a fella that had it for sale for $200. I called parks and wildlife. Even though he is the original owner he cannot legally sell it to me because he never titled it..... They didn't require titles until the 1980s, but to sell me the outboard so that I can get a legal title on it he has to come up with a sales receipt from 1967 when he bought it, then file legal paperwork saying he didn't use it on texas public waters after the 1980s when a title was required, then get a current title on it. Then he can sell it to me and I can repay all the fees he just paid in order to get a title in my name......

WHAT THE HECK ARE THEY THINKING?

I want a low end outboard so that I can fish a 14' aluminum jon boat to feed my family, I don't want to race it or try to sail it to the danged moon!

Sheesh

GoodOlBoy

Ya gotta titile a motor..Just tell the state you bought it from out of state..Say Wyoming..they don't require a motor title.. Sheesh I'll send ya a bill of sale.. but them ol seaKings were not the best motors you know

Skeet

Ya beat me to it.

Sounds like Texas is getting as bad as Massachusetts.

Yeah well I didn't wind up getting the seaking, but I may wind up taking you up on the bill of sale thing on the next one I find Skeet. Really I am only looking for a 7.5 hp. I would go as low as a 5 and as high as an 8. I want to run set lines in the boat.

Anyway I am stillllll looking.

GoodOlBoy

We title boats but not motors, so if you need a bill of sale from Wisconsin let me know.

Sounds like a situation of unintended consequences to me. You might contact your local state legislature member and outline to him/her how the law is being applied and ask that he/she get it straightened out by amendment, especially that double tax/fee business.

But, then, if the intent is to get those old oily motors off the lakes and streams, it might be working just as planned.
Ed