Boat Bill of Sale Template (UK)

Know which register the boat sits on, and what that means for the sale

Most leisure boats in the UK sit on the Small Ships Register (Part III), a simple registration used mainly so a boat can fly the UK flag internationally. Larger vessels, and vessels used for finance or commercial purposes, are registered on Part I of the Register of British Ships, where the property in the vessel is legally divided into 64 shares and any transfer must use the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's own bill of sale, executed before an independent witness.

This template is built for the Small Ships Register and unregistered boats — the case that covers the great majority of private sales. For a Part I registered vessel, or one with a bank's mortgage recorded against it, do not use a general bill of sale: the transfer must go through the MCA's Part I procedure or it does not perfect title.

Separate the ownership warranty from the as-is condition

Selling 'as seen' or 'as-is' is a statement about condition, not about who owns the boat. A seller can sell as-is and still warrant that they own the vessel outright, that it is free of any lien, marine mortgage or finance agreement, and that they have the right to sell it — that promise is what protects the buyer if a finance company or a previous co-owner later turns up.

This template keeps those two promises separate: an express warranty of title and freedom from encumbrances, and a distinct as-seen condition clause, with an optional survey condition for buyers who want a marine survey completed before they are bound.

Record VAT-paid status and CE marking, not just make and model

Inside the UK and the EU, whether VAT has been paid on a boat is one of the two facts that most affects its resale value and the buyer's later freedom to use it in other waters, alongside its build date relative to CE marking requirements. A boat without clear VAT-paid evidence can face a VAT demand years later; a boat built after the Recreational Craft Directive came into force should carry a CE mark and Declaration of Conformity from first sale, though a CE mark on a second-hand boat says nothing about whether it has been properly maintained since.

This template records the VAT status the seller is asserting and what evidence is being handed over — the original invoice, a VAT paid certificate, or an importer's declaration — rather than leaving the buyer to discover the position after the money has changed hands.

Give the trailer and outboard engine their own facts

A road trailer used to tow the boat needs its own registration facts if it is to be used on the public highway, and an outboard engine is commonly sold, insured and identified separately from the hull it happens to sit on. This template records the hull identification number, the engine make, model and serial number, and the trailer's registration mark and plate details, and states plainly whether the engine and trailer are included in the price.

Sign it in a way that will hold up

The source templates in this market's free-download space typically offer one date line and two signatures with no witness. This template adds a witness block, records the delivery point and the moment risk passes to the buyer, and gives each party a signed copy — the paperwork a buyer will actually be asked for when insuring the boat or applying for Small Ships Register documentation in their own name.

Clause-by-clause guide

Parties

Seller and buyer, matching the names to be used on any registration or insurance certificate.

The vessel

Make, model, year, hull identification number, length, beam, draft and the register it sits on, if any.

Engine and trailer

Engine make and serial number and the trailer's registration mark, each recorded and marked included or excluded.

Price and payment

The price, how it is allocated between hull, engine and trailer, the payment method and delivery point.

Warranty of title

The seller warrants ownership, the right to sell, and freedom from any lien, mortgage or finance agreement.

VAT status and CE marking

Records the VAT-paid position asserted and the evidence handed over, and the CE marking and Declaration of Conformity where they exist.

As-seen condition

The buyer takes the boat in its current condition, separate from the warranty of title above.

Survey condition

An optional clause making the sale conditional on a satisfactory marine survey by a stated date.

Known defects

The seller's honest disclosure of defects, damage and history known to them.

Registration

Confirms whether the boat sits on the Small Ships Register, and the buyer's responsibility to re-register in their own name.

Execution

Signatures, a witness block, and a dated copy for each party.

UK compliance checklist

Registration, VAT and CE marking each affect a UK boat sale differently from a road vehicle sale.

• Understand that the certificate of registry is not proof of ownership

  Ownership of a UK boat is proved by title documents such as a builder's certificate or a bill of sale, not by the Small Ships Register or Part I certificate. Do not treat the registration certificate as a substitute for this document.

  The UK Ship Register — Part I v SSR guidance

• Use the correct transfer procedure for the register

  A boat registered on Part I of the Register of British Ships must be transferred using the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's own bill of sale, executed before an independent witness — a general bill of sale does not perfect title on that register.

• Check VAT-paid status before agreeing a price

  Confirm what evidence of VAT-paid status the seller can produce, and get the original invoice or VAT certificate at completion. A boat without clear evidence can attract a VAT liability years later and is worth less as a result.

• Check CE marking and the Declaration of Conformity

  A boat first used, sold or transferred after the Recreational Craft Directive applied should carry a CE mark and Declaration of Conformity from build. The mark says nothing about the boat's current condition on a later resale, so it is not a substitute for a survey.

  Directive 2013/53/EU — recreational craft

• Check for a marine mortgage or finance agreement

  A boat can be subject to a recorded marine mortgage (on Part I) or an unregistered finance agreement. Ask directly and get written confirmation of payoff before completing if any finance is outstanding.

• Re-register or update details after the sale

  If the boat sits on the Small Ships Register, the buyer should apply for a new SSR certificate in their own name and the seller should notify the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the transfer.

• Confirm the trailer's road status separately

  A road trailer used to tow the boat needs its own registration mark to be used on the public highway. Check this is in order if the trailer is included in the sale.

How to complete the boat bill of sale

1. Confirm which register the boat sits on. Check whether the boat is on the Small Ships Register, Part I, or unregistered — Part I vessels need the MCA's own transfer procedure, not this document.
2. Describe the vessel and engine. Add the make, model, year, hull identification number, dimensions and engine details.
3. Record VAT status and CE marking. State the VAT position being asserted and list the evidence being handed over, plus any CE mark and Declaration of Conformity.
4. Set the price and payment. Add the total price, the allocation between hull, engine and trailer, and the delivery point and date.
5. Disclose known defects. Record anything the seller knows about the boat's condition and history, and add a survey condition if the buyer wants one.
6. Sign with a witness. Both parties sign and date, a witness signs, and each party keeps a copy for insurance and registration purposes.

Frequently asked questions

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