Massachusetts Boat Bill of Sale Form

The buyer will need the signed document, because Massachusetts asks for a bill of sale along with proof of ownership when a boat is registered.^[2]

What Does a Massachusetts Boat Bill of Sale Require?

The Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Massachusetts boat registration FAQs and Massachusetts General Laws chapter 90B, section 36 name a handful of things a boat sale must have. The table lists each one next to its source, so you can check the wording yourself.

Registration needs more than the bill of sale. The boat owner must submit these items.^[2]

• Proof of ownership
• A bill of sale
• Proof of payment of Massachusetts sales tax
• The appropriate registration and/or title fees

The statute sets the time limit in these words.^[3]

The application shall be made within twenty days after the date of sale of the titled motorboat.

The bill of sale must state the date of sale. To count the twenty days, use our deadline calculator.

The title is not optional. Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90B, § 36, ownership of a titled motorboat is evidenced by a certificate of title, and a certificate of title is required as proof of ownership on an application for registration.^[3]

When a manufacturer or dealer sells a titled motorboat to someone who is not a manufacturer or dealer, the manufacturer or dealer applies for the certificate of title in the buyer's name. In all other cases, the buyer makes the application.^[3]

Download a Free Massachusetts Boat Bill of Sale Form

The FormsPal template gives both sides one written record of the sale. It has room for a boat, a trailer and up to two motors, and you can fill it in online or download it as a PDF. The template records these items.

• The seller and the buyer, with their addresses and contact details
• The boat, including its make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN)
• The trailer and the motors, when they are part of the sale
• The purchase date, the total price, how the price is paid and the payment method
• Whether the applicable taxes are included in the price
• Signatures for the seller and the buyer, a witness line and a notary acknowledgment block

Create a free high-quality Massachusetts Boat Bill of Sale online now!

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How to write a Massachusetts Boat Bill of Sale

These 14 steps follow the FormsPal Massachusetts boat bill of sale template, part by part, in the order the form shows them. The form runs four pages and covers the parties, the boat, the price and payment, the signatures and a notary acknowledgment. Fill in every part that applies to your sale. To complete the downloaded file on screen, use our online PDF editor.

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Massachusetts boat bill of sale template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.

1. Date at the top. Enter the date of the bill of sale on the DATE line at the top of page 1.

   

2. Section 1, Seller's information. Fill in the seller's name, street address, city, state and zip code, telephone number and email address.

   

3. Section 2, Buyer's information. Fill in the buyer's name, street address, city, state and zip code, telephone number and email address.

   

4. Section 3, Seller and buyer names. Write the seller's name and the buyer's name again on the two lines that open the boat or watercraft description.

   

5. Section 3, Boat details. Check the Boat box, then enter the make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN).

   

6. Section 3, Hours and value of the boat. On page 2, enter the engine hours on the Odometer line, because the form asks for hours, and the boat's value in U.S. dollars.

   

7. Section 3, Trailer and motors. Check Trailer to give its make, license plate number, color, VIN, year and value. Check Motor for each motor sold and enter its make, horsepower, serial number and value. The form has room for two motors. Leave unused boxes blank.

   

8. Section 4, Purchase date and total price. Enter the purchase date (month, day and year) and the total purchase price in U.S. dollars.

   

9. Section 4, How the price is paid. Check one option: all at once on the purchase date, with a deposit, or as a gift with no consideration paid. For a deposit, enter the deposit amount, the deposit date and the date the balance is due.

   

10. Section 4, Payment method. Select one method: cash, check, cashier's check or money order. For a check, enter the check number.

    

11. Taxes and Section 5. Check whether all applicable taxes are included in the purchase price or are not included. Section 5, Miscellaneous provisions, follows on page 3. Read it before signing, because it has nothing to fill in.

    

12. Section 6, Signatures. The seller and the buyer each sign, print their name and date their line. The form also has a witness line with a printed name and date.

    

13. Acknowledgment, State of Massachusetts. Page 4 holds an acknowledgment block. If you use it, sign before the notary, then enter the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who appeared.

    

14. Acknowledgment, signature and seal line. The notary public or other officer completing the certificate signs on the Signature line and adds the seal. This is the last line of the form.

    

After everyone signs, give the original to the buyer and keep a copy for your records.

Need another document? Browse every bill of sale type, the other Massachusetts bill of sale forms, or the general boat bill of sale form.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover the title, registration paperwork, liens and the twenty-day window after a sale. Each answer comes from the Massachusetts sources listed at the end of this page, so you can check the wording yourself.

Do you need a title to sell a boat in Massachusetts?

Yes. The certificate of title must be signed over from the seller to the buyer.^[2] The bill of sale is a separate document, and the template above covers it.

Can you register a boat in Massachusetts with just a bill of sale?

No. The bill of sale is one item of several. The boat owner must submit these items.^[2]

• Proof of ownership
• A bill of sale
• Proof of payment of Massachusetts sales tax
• The appropriate registration and/or title fees

Does a lienholder have to release its lien in Massachusetts?

Yes. A lien release from the lien holder must be submitted before Massachusetts can cancel the vessel from its registration system.^[2]

What is the twenty-day deadline after a titled motorboat is sold in Massachusetts?

The application must be made within twenty days after the date of sale of the titled motorboat.^[3] The bill of sale must state the date of sale.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

Each bracketed number in the text above points to a Massachusetts source listed here. Open the link to read it in full, and check the current text and forms before you rely on them.

1. Mass. Environmental Police, First-time boat registration.
2. Massachusetts vessel bill of sale.
3. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90B, § 36.

Mara Erlach

Writer & Attorney

Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.