a boat bill of sale is a legal document that records the sale of a boat between two parties — a seller and a buyer. the boat bill of sale form you need depends on what’s included in the sale, and how your boat is registered or documented. if your boat doesn’t have a title, make sure you have the previous bill of sale or purchase agreement to prove that you’re the owner. you can use the notes section of your boat bill of sale form to mention additional details about the condition of these components.

a written agreement will eliminate or minimize questions and problems that could later turn a sweet deal at the dock into a sour one in court. it’s not necessary to have a lawyer write the contract, although this should be considered, especially if you’re buying a high-ticket boat or are having one custom-built for you. a handwritten agreement will also serve the purpose. if the sales agreement requires the signature of both the salesperson and an officer of the dealership, make sure both spaces are signed. if you’re buying from a broker, the sales contract will usually be standardized. financial institutions often consider boats to be luxury items, so the application process is more like buying a house than buying a car. as part of the underwriting process, many lenders will ask for a personal financial statement along with tax returns.