Boats for Sale in Mississippi
Mississippi boating runs from Ross Barnett Reservoir, Sardis, Grenada and Pickwick lakes in the north to the Mississippi River and the Gulf Coast around Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula.
Registration
If your boat is motorized or is a sailboat, you need a Mississippi Certificate of Number and validation decals to operate it legally on public waters. The Certificate of Number must be aboard and ready for inspection whenever the boat is operated.
When a registered boat is sold, the buyer must apply to transfer the Certificate of Number into their name within 10 days of purchase. Registration forms are available at county tax collector offices, many boat dealers and service shops, the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) district offices and its Jackson office.
Boater education
Everyone born after June 30, 1980 must pass an MDWFP-approved boating education course to legally operate a vessel. Anyone required to have the certificate must carry it aboard. Operators under 12 running a motorboat or PWC must also have someone at least 21 years old aboard.
Along the Gulf Coast, the DMR Marine Patrol offers free approved boating education classes.
Gulf Coast rules
Mississippi's Marine Litter Act bans dumping trash from boats in state waters. In marine waters, vessels need a clearly marked, closed trash container and a marine litter sticker posted where passengers can see it.
Where to boat
Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson is close to the capital. Sardis, Enid, Grenada and Arkabutla lakes are big northern reservoirs, and Pickwick Lake sits on the Tennessee River where Mississippi meets Tennessee and Alabama. On the coast, harbors at Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian and Pascagoula lead to the Mississippi Sound and barrier islands.
Popular boats
Bass boats and crappie boats inland, pontoons on the reservoirs, and bay boats and center consoles on the coast.
Buying tips for Mississippi
Get the seller's Certificate of Number and a bill of sale, and file the transfer within 10 days. If the boat lived on the coast, check closely for saltwater corrosion on the engine, trailer and fittings. Inland boats should be checked for stump or rock damage on the lower unit and hull.
The 10-day transfer window in Mississippi is short, so have the county tax collector's office lined up before you buy. Inland boats on Ross Barnett or Sardis often see stumps, so check the skeg and prop. Gulf boats need a hard look at the trailer's springs and axle, since salt water in the Mississippi Sound corrodes them fast.
Questions for a Mississippi seller: Is the Certificate of Number in your name and current? Has the boat been used in salt water, and if so, was the engine flushed after each trip? Who has been driving it, and were they born after June 30, 1980? Bring the paperwork with you to the county tax collector's office soon after the sale so the 10-day window doesn't sneak up on you. If you're keeping the boat on the coast, add the marine litter sticker and a closed trash container to your first shopping list.
1 boat for sale
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to transfer a boat registration in Mississippi?
The buyer must apply within 10 days of purchase.
Who needs a boating course in Mississippi?
Everyone born after June 30, 1980 who operates a vessel.
Do I need a marine litter sticker in Mississippi?
Yes, on vessels in marine waters, along with a closed trash container.