Free Hawaii Boat Bill of Sale Form (DLNR DOBOR Compliant PDF)

Q: Do boats have titles in Hawaii?

Yes. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 200-31, all motorized vessels and boats principally operated on Hawaiian waters must be titled and registered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).

Q: How long does a seller have to report a boat sold in Hawaii?

Under Hawaii Administrative Rules § 13-241-10, the seller must notify the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) in writing or submit the completed notice of transfer within strictly 7 calendar days of the transaction.

Q: Why do Hawaii boat numbers start with 'HA'?

Under the federal vessel numbering system administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, Hawaii was allocated the two-letter state prefix 'HA' rather than 'HI'. All state-registered vessels in Hawaii carry the 'HA' prefix (e.g., HA 1234 AB).

Q: Does a Hawaii boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

While DLNR DOBOR accepts an assigned Certificate of Ownership (Title) signed by both parties, having Form SBF-HI-BOAT notarized is strongly recommended to protect both parties against disputed purchase prices, maritime lien claims, and unrecorded liens, and is required if the title assignment lines are full or missing.

Q: Where do you register a boat trailer in Hawaii?

Unlike the boat and motor which are registered with the State DLNR DOBOR, boat trailers are highway motor vehicles that must be titled and registered separately through your local County Motor Vehicle Registration division (such as the Honolulu Satellite City Hall or Maui County DMV) after passing a safety check.

FORM SBF-HI-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

HRS §§ 200-24, 200-31 & HAR § 13-241-10

STATE OF HAWAII STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Watercraft, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement

Compliant with Hawaii DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR)

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned Seller, for and in consideration of the total sales price set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, transfer, and deliver unto the undersigned Buyer all legal rights, title, equity, and interest in and to the vessel, outboard motor, and boat trailer described below, to have and to hold forever.

SECTION A: JURISDICTION & LOCATION OF SALE

State:

Hawaii County / Island *:

SECTION B: COMPLETE VESSEL (HULL) DESCRIPTION

Year Built *

Make / Builder *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft/In) *

Hull Material *

Vessel Type *

Hawaii Reg # (HA Prefix) *

Hull Identification Number (HIN - Exactly 12 Characters) *:

SECTION C: OUTBOARD MOTOR & BOAT TRAILER SPECS

1. Outboard / Inboard Marine Motor

Motor Make

Year

Motor Serial Number *

2. Boat Trailer Specifications Included in Sale

Trailer Make

Year

Weight

Trailer VIN / Serial # (County DMV) *

SECTION D: IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES (TRANSFEROR & TRANSFEREE)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

HI Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

SECTION E: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION & ITEMIZED PRICE BREAKDOWN

Vessel (Hull) Price

Motor Price

Boat Trailer Price

Total Purchase Price (USD) *

Date of Sale *:

SECTION F: MARINE "AS-IS" WARRANTY DISCLAIMER & AFFIDAVIT

STATUTORY AS-IS DISCLAIMER (HRS § 490:2-316): The vessel, outboard motor, and trailer (if included) are bargained, sold, and conveyed strictly in "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT. The Seller expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including any warranty of merchantability, seaworthiness, hull integrity, or fitness for any particular marine purpose. Buyer acknowledges having conducted a thorough marine survey and sea trial, or having knowingly waived the right to do so. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury and false swearing (HRS § 710-1062) that Seller is the lawful owner with clear legal title free from all maritime liens, encumbrances, or security interests.

SECTION G: SIGNATURES & NOTARY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Seller (Transferor) Signature

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF HAWAII CIRCUIT / COUNTY OF:

On this _____ day of ________________, 2026, before me personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government-issued photo identification to be the person(s) whose name(s) are subscribed to this vessel bill of sale, and acknowledged executing the same as their free act and deed.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here DLNR / DOBOR Compliant

FORM SBF-HI-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com HRS §§ 200-24, 200-31 & HAR § 13-241-10 • DLNR Division of Boating & Ocean Recreation PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Hawaii DLNR / DOBOR 3-Step Vessel Transfer & Registration Guide

Follow Hawaii statutory requirements under HRS Chapter 200 and HAR § 13-241-10 to legally transfer vessel ownership, register outboard motors, and license boat trailers without administrative delays.

Execute Title & Form SBF-HI-BOAT

The seller endorses the original Hawaii Certificate of Ownership (Title). Both buyer and seller execute this statutory Form SBF-HI-BOAT Bill of Sale itemizing the hull, outboard motor, and boat trailer values.

Seller Reports Sale within 7 Days

Under HAR § 13-241-10, the seller MUST notify the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) in writing or submit the transfer notice within strictly 7 calendar days of the sale to avoid ongoing vessel liabilities.

Buyer Registers with DOBOR & County

Within 30 calendar days, the buyer submits the title, Bill of Sale, and application to any DLNR / DOBOR harbor office (e.g. Keehi, Maalaea, Honokohau) for validation decals. The boat trailer must be registered separately at the local County DMV.

Statutory Summary

Hawaii Boat Transfer Legal Requirements

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Hawaii Certificate of Ownership	HRS § 200-31	Mandatory	Primary legal document of vessel ownership issued by DLNR DOBOR for all motorized watercraft.
7-Day Seller Notice of Transfer	HAR § 13-241-10	Mandatory (Seller)	Written notice filed with DOBOR within 7 calendar days to extinguish seller liability for grounding/abandonment.
Form SBF-HI-BOAT Bill of Sale	HRS § 200-24	Essential	Legal sales contract establishing price breakdown, transfer date, and Marine As-Is warranty waiver.
Hawaii "HA" Vessel Number	33 C.F.R. § 173.27	Mandatory	Federal vessel identification prefix allocated to Hawaii ("HA"), displayed on forward hull halves.
Boat Trailer County DMV Titling	HRS § 286-41	Mandatory (County)	Boat trailers must pass safety inspection and be registered at the County DMV / Satellite City Hall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hawaii Boat Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Do boats have titles in Hawaii?

How long does a seller have to report a boat sold in Hawaii?

Why do Hawaii boat numbers start with "HA"?

Does a Hawaii boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

Where do you register a boat trailer in Hawaii?