Outdoors Board.

General Board is not your friend here.

Look into registration of a John Doe boat instead for this

My buddy Junior had to sell his new John boat to bail his grandma out of jail

I am usually on the OB but saw your post. Will try to help:

First -- If the boat is less than 14 ft. and you don't motorize it ( No gas motor or electric troll motor), Texas does not require it to be registered. You can only paddle or use oars.

If you have no idea who the owner is and it has no previous registration numbers on it (Called TX numbers) you can try and get a Bonded Title (Surety Bond). You can do this all yourself or you can contact a Surety Bond Company (Like TMD Surety Bonds for example) and they can assist.

You must verify that the boat has not been junked or stolen through TPWD. You should see a serial number (Typically located on the back of the transom). It will either be embossed or stamped into the hull or have a tag with the serial number attached to the hull. You will give this number to TPWD so they can check the records of the hull.

If the boat was at one time stolen or junked this serial number may be ground off or the tag taken off. Some boat manufacturers place another serial number in a hidden place. (Just in case the boat does get stolen and someone removes the transom serial number.) If you know who manufactured the John Boat you can call them and ask for that 2nd location. Sometimes manufacturers will not give that info out unless they are talking with or have documentation from a Law Enforcement Agency.

If it shows no evidence of being junked or stolen you can then follow TPWD's guidelines for an abandoned boat. The bonded title form at TPWD is Form PWD 143

Good luck and hope this may help you.