Need Help finding previous owner of my boat

[PortTobacco II]

Can anyone help me find the previous owner of my boat? I bought my boat & trailer from guy in Maine back in August 2017. I got my boat registered here in MD no problem BUT I never got the trailer registered or in my name. I have LOST all my records of this transaction. Don't have his name or phone number. Maine is a no title state so I never got a title for the trailer. This is what I have attempted so far:
1) Called Maine DMV to see if they could connect me with him. No luck.
2) Called MD DNR to see if they have a copy of the Bill of sale that I gave them when I registered the boat. No luck.
3) Called Yamaha Corp to see if they could connect me with the previous owner of my boat. No luck.
4) Tried view my Verizon cell phone call log from August 2017. No luck could only get back to Jan 2019. Attempted to talk to Verizon customer service ...could never get through to a person.
5) Tried to pull up the check I used. Looks like I had a Bank Check written to the lien holder and not him.

The folks at Maine and MD DMV suggested that I pretend I built the trailer and get a new VIN issued. Or I thought I could create a new Bill of Sale with made up seller info and use that to register it. Both of these approaches seem too dishonest and I don't I could ever do it. But possession is 9/10 of the law and I did buy the trailer...so.

Any thoughts? Anyone from the Portland, Maine area know a guy that owned a blue 2016 SX240 named "Cabin Fevah"? Any one know a state that may allow me to register the trailer without having to lie? Anyone know someone at a Yamaha corp or maybe a dealership that could run the HIN on the boat to get the original owners name (it had the YES warranty so this info has to be in Yamaha system).?

 

[Julian]

I seriously doubt any official channels will give you info on the prior owner.

I would create a bill of sale that is as accurate as you can fabricate. You aren't being dishonest....just having to create this in order to be honest with registration.

 

[jtwrace]

Or you can let these guys handled it?

Home - Maine Trailer Registrations

mainetrailerregistrations.com

Never used them

 

[ctyke]

Not help in finding the previous owner, but a similar situation with a friend of mine. He couldn't find the title to his boat that he bought off of CL. So he didn't know who the owner was and nobody would tell him who owned the boat previous. He filed paperwork with the state stating he was the owner and lost the title before transfering. cost him $100 or so, but they gave him a title to the boat and trailer. This was Minnie, so YMMV.

 

[anmut]

Just make something up - your chances of having your trailer checked at those details is slim to none. Cops are going to want to see a plate and tag, done deal.

 

[PortTobacco II]

I seriously doubt any official channels will give you info on the prior owner.

I would create a bill of sale that is as accurate as you can fabricate. You aren't being dishonest....just having to create this in order to be honest with registration.

Yes I agree. But on the Bill of Sale I would have to make up a name & address of the guy I bought it from in Maine. Maybe indicate on the Bill of Sale that the seller's name was "Guy Inmaine" ....which would not technically be a lie.

 

[2kwik4u]

Had this problem when the new owner (indiana) bought my (kentucky) Rinker. KY is a no title state on trailers, and IN is a title and register state. She had to jump through a TON of hoops, including a drive back to have me sign and notarize a bill of sale. EVEN THEN, the sheriffs department from her home county had to come out and inspect the trailer to check the vin on the trailer matched the vin on the paperwork. It was a huge PIA.

I had to do something similar when I was importing a vehicle into Indiana (I've moved since the trailer thing) from Winnipeg, Canada. I had missed one line for the seller to fill out, so I made something up on the spot and let it rip. Turned out to not be any harder than that. I think it was something about having the Canadian leaf sticker on the door jamb, or something like that they wanted to know. I just said yes and didn't worry about it.

Similar story of a friend in KY. His first car was an "abandoned" vehicle. Someone literally left a '85 Ford Escort Wagon with a 5spd in his front yard. Like parked on 1/2 grass, 1/2 pavement. He called the cops, they didn't want to tow it for some reason. He was able to get with the DMV and file an "abandoned car claim form". The DMV ran the vin, and gave him the previous owners name/address. Sent 3 certified letters with no response, and the DMV made a new title with my buddies name and info on it, and it was officially his.

@PortTobacco II If I was in your shoes, I would go the "rebuilt vehicle" route. You're not being dishonest. You either need this VIN number transferred over to you, or you need a new VIN assigned to the trailer. Both are legitimate things that can come from the "rebuilt vehicle" route. At least in KY and IN that is the case. Good chance they'll assign the trailer a new VIN number, and you'll be good to go. I'm sure this isn't the first time the local DMV has handled something like this, follow their advice and get 'er done

 

[Canuckjetboater]

Had this problem when the new owner (indiana) bought my (kentucky) Rinker. KY is a no title state on trailers, and IN is a title and register state. She had to jump through a TON of hoops, including a drive back to have me sign and notarize a bill of sale. EVEN THEN, the sheriffs department from her home county had to come out and inspect the trailer to check the vin on the trailer matched the vin on the paperwork. It was a huge PIA.

I had to do something similar when I was importing a vehicle into Indiana (I've moved since the trailer thing) from Winnipeg, Canada. I had missed one line for the seller to fill out, so I made something up on the spot and let it rip. Turned out to not be any harder than that. I think it was something about having the Canadian leaf sticker on the door jamb, or something like that they wanted to know. I just said yes and didn't worry about it.

Similar story of a friend in KY. His first car was an "abandoned" vehicle. Someone literally left a '85 Ford Escort Wagon with a 5spd in his front yard. Like parked on 1/2 grass, 1/2 pavement. He called the cops, they didn't want to tow it for some reason. He was able to get with the DMV and file an "abandoned car claim form". The DMV ran the vin, and gave him the previous owners name/address. Sent 3 certified letters with no response, and the DMV made a new title with my buddies name and info on it, and it was officially his.

@PortTobacco II If I was in your shoes, I would go the "rebuilt vehicle" route. You're not being dishonest. You either need this VIN number transferred over to you, or you need a new VIN assigned to the trailer. Both are legitimate things that can come from the "rebuilt vehicle" route. At least in KY and IN that is the case. Good chance they'll assign the trailer a new VIN number, and you'll be good to go. I'm sure this isn't the first time the local DMV has handled something like this, follow their advice and get 'er done

@PortTobacco II great advice, IMO, from @2kwik4u .....go the rebuilt trailer route. Worried about that - change something, like what you ask, re-carpet the bunks, replace the bow roller - voila - your very own legally re-built trailer

 

[Quad]

Reach out to Long Lake Marina in Naples, ME. They sell and service pretty much every Yamaha boat in the state and may be able to help you make a connection.

 

[the MfM]

Maine is a no title state for boats. But trailers do have titles.

The lien holder you wrote the check to likely also has or had the trailer title. Maybe they can look it up through the boats HIN? I wouldn’t call asking for the sellers name. I’d ask them why they didn’t sent the title. Maybe you’ll get lucky

 

[PortTobacco II]

Reach out to Long Lake Marina in Naples, ME. They sell and service pretty much every Yamaha boat in the state and may be able to help you make a connection.

I literally called this Marina yesterday! I was thinking the same thing you just posted LOL. I got a sales department guys voicemail yesterday and I did not leave a message. Maybe I will call them back today

 

[PortTobacco II]

Maine is a no title state for boats. But trailers do have titles.

The lien holder you wrote the check to likely also has or had the trailer title. Maybe they can look it up through the boats HIN?

If he had a title, I am sure he gave it to me and I lost it. I lost everything associated with this transaction....even the sellers contact info. But I thought Maine is a no title state even for trailers?

Funny I still have Alan Crews (forum member and all around good guy ) number in my phone. I bought Alan's bought before I bought my current boat.

 

[zipper]

Years ago I took posession of an unused 16' equipment trailer as payment for plowing a neighbors driveway for a couple of Winters. There was no title. I went with the "rebuilt trailer" documentation to get a title and later sell the trailer.

 

[the MfM]

If he had a title, I am sure he gave it to me and I lost it. I lost everything associated with this transaction....even the sellers contact info. But I thought Maine is a no title state even for trailers?

Funny I still have Alan Crews (forum member and all around good guy ) number in my phone. I bought Alan's bought before I bought my current boat.

No, there are titles for trailers. You should have had a bill of sale for both the boat and trailer. Or at least a bill of sale that listed both items with the trailer VIN and boat HIN.

The seller should have had a “green” trailer title which showed him as the owner and along with a lien holder. If there was no loan on the trailer then owner would have the “brown” trailer title which means there is no lien.

 

[the MfM]

If you know the name of the town the seller lived in I would try the local town hall registration office. They will have a record of the last time the boat or trailer was registered. And can look up the owners info through the VIN or HIN. If you ask real nice they’d probably call the seller for you and have him contact you.

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

I’d just make something up. To me there is a difference between being dishonest to cheat the system and benefit yourself, and being dishonest to accomplish a ridiculous bureaucratic government requirement in which you are just trying to do the legal thing, pay your taxes, and register your trailer.

 

[PortTobacco II]

Reach out to Long Lake Marina in Naples, ME. They sell and service pretty much every Yamaha boat in the state and may be able to help you make a connection.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It freak'n wooooooooorked!!!! Called Long Lake Yamaha jetboat dealership and they gave me his name and cell! Found him in Facebook. It his definitely him!! I hope he helps.

 

[PortTobacco II]

The seller is helping me! And we are NOW FACEBOOK friends
Oh this is freak'n awesome.

 

[Quad]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It freak'n wooooooooorked!!!! Called Long Lake Yamaha jetboat dealership and they gave me his name and cell! Found him in Facebook. It his definitely him!! I hope he helps.

No way! So glad they could help! LLM has been pretty great.

The seller is helping me! And we are NOW FACEBOOK friends
Oh this freak'n awesome.

HA! that's the BEST!

 

[Gym]

I've met those guys @ long Lake. The owner, Jim and his son Jim are really helpful people and run a real family friendly dealership. Glad they were able to help you out @PortTobacco II .