Ok guys, I finally bought a boat. The only thing is I'm waiting for some of the paper work to get the boat licensed. My question is, can I take the boat out while waiting for all of this? What things do I all need if I can take the boat out. I bought the boat the other day, i have a bill of sale. Is there some kind of grace period that I can take the boat out on the water? The only problem is that the guy didn't have the boat licensed yet for this year. Any info would be great!

No registration, no use of boat. You will have to wait until monday to register it, only a registrar can do it.
Don't risk to use it this weekend, there will be many officers on patrol, even ashore, and an expire sticker, which is a big colored stamp with a big number on it, it is very visible from distance, you will get fined.

Used may be different. When they're new you can run around all you want with no stickers, etc. as long as you carry some proof of ownership while the paperwork is processed. The dealer took care of this for me but I could still use the boat until I got my reg. sticker....just like a car.

if you buy it from a dealer, the dealer is going to givve you a 21 day permit for that boat so you can use it untill you get the tags for the boat. If you have it from a private party, you have to put the tags on it before you can get it wet.

That's what I was worried about. I guess I'll just have to wait to get her out on the water. I bought from a private party so I'll just have to wait. Until then I'll just get everything ready to go. Thanks guys for the info.

DNR CO's, and sheriff's deputies, are always looking at a boats registration sticker while on water patrol.Getting caught on the water will result in a citation, and an escort back to shore.Bill of sale from a private party will not do it.Registration sticker, and boat numbers, are like the license plate, and tabs, on your vehicle. Same results will happen- no different if you were to drive your car without current tabs,license plate, or 21 day sticker, and get pulled over for it.

when I bought mine it had old stickers on it. the P.O. applied for new stickers the day I bought it and was told they were going to be mailed out to him. He told me he would bring them over (lives next door) when they showed up. I went to the DMV the next morning and changed the registration. the guy there told me I could put it in the water today but make sure I had my recipt IN MY POCKET anytime its on the water before the sticker showed up. so yes, unless you have been to the DMV already, dont drop it in.

and yes, they are watching, In fact on saturday I watched a Ramsey County Sheriff write my friend a ticket for expired tabs on his truck at a metro lake launch. He hadnt even pulled all the way in to the parking lot before the Sheriff was waving him down.