Updated September 04, 2023
A Hawaii boat/vessel bill of sale formalizes the purchase and sale of a motorized or sail-powered vessel between two (2) private parties. The two individuals, usually a buyer and seller, can utilize the bill of sale to express in writing the transactional terms as well as the agreed-upon purchase price. Upon registering the vessel under their name and obtaining proper decals, the new owner must provide a notarized bill of sale to the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).
Signing Requirements – Both the buyer and seller must sign the document before a state-recognized notary public.
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Registering a Boat
Motorized boats/vessels of all sizes and sailboats over eight (8) feet in length must be registered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) before being launched onto public waters. Certain vessels are exempt, such as government-owned boats and manually-propelled vessels; all foreign vessels from another state may also operate in Hawaii’s waters without a DOBOR-issued registration, but they may do so for no more than sixty (60) days.
Vessel registrations in Hawaii are valid for one (1) year. Owners may renew their registration online through DOBOR’s Online Vessel Registration Renewal.
Where to Register
Boat owners must register their vessels for the first time and transfer registration at any Division of Boating and Ocean Registration (DOBOR) District Office or at the DOBOR Administrative Office in Honolulu.
Required Documents
- Bill of Sale;
- Application for Vessel Registration and Certificate of Number (REV 2021);
- Original Certificate of Title, only for out-of-state titles transfers (if no bill of sale exists);
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (brand-new boats only);
- Change of Status (LNR 3-023);
- Certificate of Boating Safety Education;[1]
- Valid Hawaii Driver’s License or Proof of Identity; and
- Registration Fees[2] (rates vary depending on the boat’s length).