Rhode Island Vessel Bill of Sale
The Department of Environmental Management requires nearly all vessels that operate in Rhode Island waterways to be registered. (Vessels operated by guests from outside the state may be run for up to sixty days without requiring Rhode Island registration; non-mechanized vessels under twelve feet in length, and houseboats are exempt.) Within fifteen days of acquisition, the purchaser has to document the watercraft with the DEM. Registrations for boats are valid for two years and can be renewed virtually.
The Department of Environmental Management's Providence office will handle vessel documentation. Materials can be sent to the address provided on the registration form.
An application for vessel documentation
An application for the documentation of outboard motors
A bill of sale document is a legal document that documents the sale of the boat(Note: If the vessel is bought through a merchant, the Purchaser has to utilize the dealer's form.)
Following the United States Coast Guard requirements, a pencil tracing of the Hull Identification Number.
A manufacturer's statement of origin and a Request for Initial Boat Certificate of Title if the vessel was bought from a merchant.
If the vessel was bought with an extant title, the most current title certificate signed over to the purchaser, as well as the most current documentation statement from the previous state if the vessel was formerly titled in that state.
Evidence of remittance of all registration costs for every schedule. There is no sales tax due on vessels in Rhode Island bought after 1993.