"Reggie Smithers" wrote in message
...
When I have sold or purchased boats in the past, I have written into the
contract that I or the seller would provide a clean title within 3
weeks. I then paid off the lien holder, copied the seller on the check
submitted to the lien holder and then provided him with a copy of the
title. If either party did not honor the contract, it could be resolved
in court.

I have always felt this was sufficient, but if someone's objective was to
screw me and the title was a forgery,( with today's computer is very
possible), they probably could have. Today, I think I would contact the
lien holder directly get the payoff amount, ask for a check to be made
jointly to me and the lien holder and I would mail the check to the lien
holder.




"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 2 Jan 2006 12:23:54 -0500, "Reggie Smithers"

wrote:

JohnH,

Did the credit union warrant that the title was clean and clear? Since
you
purchased the boat, and used them to "borrow the money" and they were the
lien holder, I would think it was up to you to provide them with a clean
title, not up to them to provide you with a clean title.

Or do you mean that since the title was clean enough for the Credit
Union,
it probably was a clean title?


"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 14:52:02 GMT, "Butch Davis"

wrote:

Reggie,

When buying a used boat it is critically important to absolutly know
that
the boat is legally owned by the seller and that it is free of any
liens.
Some states continue to fail to require boat titles. Alabama is one of
those states.

As you said, the other major risk is hidden defects. New engines
and/or
major hull repair would drive the cost well above that of a new boat
with
a
warranty.

Butch

To overcome the 'title' problem, I financed the boat through the credit
union and let
them worry about getting the correct title, etc. Then, after a couple
weeks, I paid
off the loan. Total cost to me was about $25, well worth it.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary
to
resolve it."
Rene Descartes


The credit union worked with the seller's bank to get the title. The
seller still had
a note on the boat which had to be paid off by the credit union.

To answer your second question, I guess I assumed if it was clean enough
for the
credit union, it would be clean enough for me. I figured they had some
quick and
dirty way to check a title.

How would one go about verifying a clean title?

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary
to resolve it."
Rene Descartes



In California, and also Oregon, where I purchased my boat, the lien holder
is listed on the title, just like on a car.