Boat bill of sale template

A free boat bill of sale template in Word and PDF with room for the HIN, each outboard or engine, and an optional trailer. Check state and Coast Guard rules first.

Signed by: Seller, then Buyer.

Download Word (.docx)Download PDF Read it on this page

When SignWren launches, you'll be able to customize this template, save it to your own account and send it for e-signature. Join the waitlist to hear first.

Free, no sign-up. Updated September 30, 2026 by Suresh Ganapathy.

A boat bill of sale records that a seller sold a specific boat, identified by its hull identification number (HIN), to a buyer for a stated price. Unlike a car sale, a boat deal often bundles three things that may be titled separately: the hull, one or more engines, and a trailer. This free boat bill of sale template in Word and PDF gives each one its own line so nothing gets lost between the dock and the title office.

Is your boat state-titled or Coast Guard documented?

Figure this out before anything else, because it decides which paperwork transfers ownership. Most recreational boats are titled and registered by a state agency. Some larger boats are instead documented with the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC), and you’ll see a Certificate of Documentation rather than a state title.

For a documented vessel, the NVDC’s own bill of sale is form CG-1340. Its transfer instructions say the bill of sale must be signed by or on behalf of everyone transferring an interest in the vessel, and the seller’s signatures must be acknowledged by a notary public. If there’s a recorded mortgage, the NVDC wants a satisfaction from the lender (or its withdrawal form, CG-4593) as well. The NVDC also warns that altered forms are rejected, so download CG-1340 fresh from its forms page and don’t retype it.

States treat documented boats differently. Florida exempts federally documented vessels from state titling. Texas does the same but still expects state registration along with proof of current documentation. So a documented boat can still need a trip to the state office.

For a state-titled boat, the agency varies. In Florida it’s the motor vehicle department (FLHSMV); in Texas it’s Texas Parks and Wildlife. The USA.gov list of state motor vehicle agencies is a good starting point, and your state’s page will tell you if boats are handled elsewhere.

When is a general boat bill of sale the right document?

Use this template for a private sale of a used boat that’s state-titled, registered, or neither (a small unpowered boat in a state that doesn’t title them). Say a hypothetical seller in Tampa is selling a 2016 18-foot center console with a 115 hp outboard and a galvanized trailer for $21,000. The buyer will want the HIN, both serial numbers, the trailer VIN, and a clear statement of what’s included. This template has a place for all of that.

If you’re only selling a trailer, the trailer bill of sale is the better fit. For a car, truck or motorcycle, see the vehicle bill of sale. For a kayak rack, fishing gear or electronics sold on their own, the plain bill of sale is enough.

Which numbers belong on a boat bill of sale?

The hull identification number

Federal rules require a 12-character HIN with no dashes or spaces. The first three characters identify the manufacturer, the next five are a serial number, and the last four encode the build month and year and the model year. The primary HIN sits on the starboard side of the transom, within two inches of the top, and a duplicate is placed somewhere hidden inside the boat.

Read the transom HIN yourself and compare it with the title or registration. If it’s been ground off, patched over, or doesn’t match, stop and ask questions before any money moves.

Every engine, by serial number

Write down the make, horsepower, year and serial number of each outboard, inboard or sterndrive, plus the hours if there’s a meter. Motors can have their own paperwork. Texas titles all gas, diesel and propane outboard motors separately unless the motor is 40 years or older and 25 hp or less, so a Texas outboard needs its own title transfer. Other states fold the motor into the boat’s paperwork. Recording serials protects you in both cases.

The trailer, if it’s part of the deal

Trailers are usually titled or registered with the motor vehicle agency, not with the boat. Give the trailer its VIN, year and make, and tick the box saying it’s included. If the trailer stays with the seller, say that too.

What else does the template cover?

The price section lets you split the total between boat, engines and trailer. You don’t have to, but an itemized price is handy when a state wants separate title applications or taxes the pieces differently. There’s also a condition section (as-is, or specific written promises), the seller’s statements about ownership and liens, and a list of included gear like electronics, covers and safety equipment.

How do you complete the sale and sign?

Check whether the boat is documented or state-titled, and pull the right forms.
Match the HIN, engine serials and trailer VIN against the paperwork.
Fill in the bill of sale and agree who pays title, registration and tax.
Sign. For a documented vessel, also complete CG-1340 and get the seller’s signature notarized.
The buyer applies for title and registration within the state’s deadline. Texas, for instance, gives 45 days from the date of purchase.

E-signing the bill of sale itself is usually fine; the federal ESIGN Act says a contract can’t be denied effect just because it’s electronic. Title assignments and the notarized CG-1340 follow their own rules, so check before you skip the ink. Our guide to documents you can’t sign electronically covers the general exceptions.

Download it, fill in the blanks, and send it for e-signature with any tool you like. (We’re building SignWren for exactly this; join the waitlist.)

This page is general information, not legal advice. For a specific sale or dispute, talk to a lawyer licensed where you are.

The boat bill of sale template

Download as Word

Template from signwren.com. General information, not legal advice. Check your state's rules and adapt it before you use it.

Some states require their own boat or vessel bill of sale form; check the agency that titles boats in your state first (start with USA.gov's list of state motor vehicle agencies). If the boat is documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, ownership of the documented vessel transfers on the Coast Guard's own bill of sale, form CG-1340, with the seller's signature notarized; get it from the NVDC forms page. This document does not replace a title or a Certificate of Documentation.

BOAT BILL OF SALE

Date of sale: [date]

Seller: [Seller's full legal name, as shown on the title, registration or documentation]
Address: [street, city, state, ZIP]
Phone / email: [contact details]

Buyer: [Buyer's full legal name]
Address: [street, city, state, ZIP]
Phone / email: [contact details]

1. The boat

Detail	Information
Hull identification number (HIN), 12 characters	[HIN]
Year / make / model	[year, make, model]
Length	[feet]
Hull material	[fiberglass, aluminum, wood, other]
Propulsion	☐ Outboard ☐ Inboard ☐ Sterndrive ☐ Jet ☐ Sail ☐ None
State title number and state	[number, state, or "not titled"]
State registration number	[number, or "none"]
Name of vessel (if any)	[name]

Status of the boat (tick one):
☐ State-titled or state-registered only.
☐ Documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. Official number: [number]. The parties will also complete Coast Guard form CG-1340 for the documented vessel.

2. Engines

	Engine 1	Engine 2
Make and model	[ ]	[ ]
Horsepower	[ ]	[ ]
Year	[ ]	[ ]
Serial number	[ ]	[ ]
Hours (if metered)	[ ]	[ ]
Separate engine title number (if your state titles motors)	[ ]	[ ]

☐ No engine is included in this sale.

3. Trailer (optional)

☐ No trailer is included.
☐ The following trailer is included:

Year / make: [year, make]
VIN or trailer identification number: [number]
Title or registration number and state: [number, state]
License plate: [plate number, or "plate kept by Seller"]

4. Other items included

[for example: fish finder and GPS unit, VHF radio, bimini top, cover, life jackets, anchor and line, fenders, dock lines, spare prop, manuals. Or write "none"]

5. Price

Item	Price
Boat (hull)	[$ amount]
Engine(s)	[$ amount]
Trailer	[$ amount]
Other items	[$ amount]
Total	[$ amount]

If you would rather not split the price, write the total only and leave the other lines blank.

6. Payment

Payment method: ☐ Cash ☐ Cashier's check ☐ Bank transfer ☐ Other: [describe]

Tick one:
☐ The total has been paid in full and the Seller confirms receipt.
☐ The Buyer has paid a deposit of [$ amount]. The balance of [$ amount] is due on [date]. The Seller keeps possession of the boat, and does not sign over any title or documentation, until the balance is paid.

7. Condition

Tick one:
☐ As-is. The Buyer has had the chance to inspect the boat, engines and trailer, to have them surveyed or checked by a mechanic, and to take a sea trial. The Buyer accepts them in their present condition, with all faults. The Seller makes no promises about condition beyond section 8.
☐ With these written promises only: [describe]. The Seller makes no other promises about condition.

Known problems the Seller has disclosed: [for example, soft spot in the deck, engine overheats above 5,000 rpm, trailer bearings due. Or "none known"]

8. Seller's statements

The Seller states that:

the Seller owns the boat, engines and any trailer listed above and has the right to sell them;
they are free of liens, loans or mortgages, except: [lender and amount, or "none"]. Any lien will be paid off, and a release delivered, before or at the time ownership documents are signed over;
to the Seller's knowledge, the HIN, engine serial numbers and any trailer number listed above are the original numbers and have not been altered; and
to the Seller's knowledge, none of the items is stolen.

9. Transfer of ownership documents

On full payment the Seller will sign over the boat's title or registration, any separate engine title, and any trailer title, and give the Buyer anything else needed to transfer them under state law. For a documented vessel, the Seller will sign form CG-1340 before a notary and deliver any lender's satisfaction of mortgage.

The Buyer will apply for title, registration or updated documentation within the time required.

Taxes, title and registration fees are paid by: ☐ Buyer ☐ Seller ☐ Shared as follows: [describe].

10. Delivery and risk

The Buyer takes possession on [date] at [location]. From that moment the Buyer is responsible for the boat, engines and trailer, including insurance, storage, slip fees and damage.

11. General terms

Entire agreement. This bill of sale is the whole agreement between the Seller and the Buyer about these items.

Changes. Any change must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Governing law. The law of [State] governs this bill of sale.

Severability. If any part is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect.

Electronic signatures and counterparts. The parties agree this agreement may be signed electronically and in counterparts, and an electronic signature has the same effect as a handwritten one. This does not change any requirement for how a title, Coast Guard form or notarized document must be signed.

Signatures

Seller
Signature: ______________________________
Name: [full name]
Date: [date]

Buyer
Signature: ______________________________
Name: [full name]
Date: [date]

Quick answers

What is a HIN and where do I find it?

The hull identification number is a 12-character code the manufacturer puts on the boat. Federal rules place the main one on the starboard (right) side of the transom near the top, with a duplicate hidden somewhere inside the hull.

Can I use this template for a Coast Guard documented boat?

Not to transfer the documentation. The National Vessel Documentation Center uses its own bill of sale, form CG-1340, and the seller's signature has to be acknowledged by a notary. You can still use this template for the side terms, such as the trailer and payment.

Does the outboard motor need its own paperwork?

In some states, yes. Texas, for example, titles most gas and diesel outboard motors separately from the boat, so the motor needs its own transfer. List every engine by serial number on the bill of sale either way.

Is the trailer included when I sell a boat?

Only if the bill of sale says so. Trailers are usually titled or registered through the motor vehicle agency, separately from the boat, so describe the trailer and its VIN if it's part of the deal.

Sources

This template and guide are general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state; for anything important, have a lawyer licensed where you are review it.

More business and sales templates

All templates