Boats for Sale in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has Lake Erie at Presque Isle, the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, Pittsburgh's three rivers and inland lakes such as Raystown, Lake Wallenpaupack and Pymatuning.

Registration through the Fish and Boat Commission

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) issues all boat registrations and titles. Every motorboat, whether gas, diesel or electric, must be registered. Unpowered boats need a registration or a launch permit to use PFBC, DCNR State Park or State Forest access areas. Boats register in the state where they're primarily used.

Registrations last up to two years, and the card must be on the boat. Motorboat fees are $26 under 16 feet, $39 from 16 to under 20 feet and $52 for 20 feet and over.

Applying at a PFBC office or an authorized issuing agent gets you a 60-day temporary registration, so you can use the boat right away. If you mail it in, processing can take up to 60 days, and it's illegal to use the boat until the permanent registration arrives.

Which boats need a title

Inboard-powered boats, including PWCs, from model year 1997 or newer.
Outboard-powered boats 14 feet or longer from model year 1997 or newer.
Any boat currently titled in Pennsylvania, or titled in another state once Pennsylvania becomes its state of primary use.

Once a boat is titled, even voluntarily, it stays titled for every future owner. A title costs $30 and lien recording costs $20.

For a registered-only boat, proof of ownership is the registration card or a bill of sale signed by the last registered owner. A boat never registered in Pennsylvania needs a title or registration from another state, or an MCO, plus a bill of sale with buyer and seller details, location, date and the HIN.

Boating Safety Education Certificate

You need the certificate to operate any PWC. You also need it if you were born on or after January 1, 1982 and operate a boat with a motor over 25 hp. The certificate is good for life and must be carried. Out-of-state boaters need a NASBLA-approved certificate.

Where to boat

Presque Isle Bay at Erie opens to Lake Erie. Raystown Lake, Lake Wallenpaupack and Pymatuning are inland favorites. The Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers around Pittsburgh have locks and commercial traffic, and the Delaware River runs past Philadelphia.

Popular boats

Pontoons, bass boats, runabouts and fishing boats dominate. River cruisers are common around Pittsburgh.

Buying tips for Pennsylvania

Check whether the boat must be titled. If it's a 1997 or newer inboard or a 14-foot outboard, insist on the title. Use an issuing agent to get the 60-day temporary registration.

A Pennsylvania boat that was ever titled stays titled, so ask for the title even on an older boat. If you mail in your paperwork, you can't use the boat until the permanent registration arrives, which can take up to 60 days. Plan the purchase before the summer rush at Raystown or Lake Wallenpaupack, and check how the boat was winterized.

Questions for a Pennsylvania seller: Has the boat ever been titled, and is there a title in your name?