Dealer went out of business - how can I get my MSO document?

I might have the perfect storm things working against me trying to get my Outback registered in California…

1. I purchased the kayak from a private party. I got all of the original owners documents in the deal but not the MSO

2. I do happen to know that the Kayak was originally purchased from a local dealer here in so cal, the bad news though is that dealer closed up shop about a year ago.

Anyone have any tips / suggestions? I’ve already dropped a pretty penny on motorizing my Outback and was moving to the next step of making it all legal like. Hoping there’s a path forward here still.

The MSO is typically used for dealer-consumer transactions. If you bought it used, a bill of sale would be proof of ownership.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-r ... at-vessel/

Unfortunately, Bill of Sale only works if it’s been registered before, had to go through this twice in CA for a kayak and a Hobie sailboat. Did you buy all the accessories from a different dealer? Maybe they would help you try to get a copy from Hobie?

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No everything bought from same dealer. Can you elaborate more on your bill of sale comment? I've had several people now tell me that this is the path forward. The DMV will just need to establish ownership via a bill of sale and a statement of facts. I'm also planning to have CHP do the HID verification before I hit the DMV.

If it is the first time it is being registered in CA (not registered before in CA or doesn't come with Title from another state), you will need both the bill of sale and the MSO, so you will have to try to see if one of the local dealers or Hobie themselves can help with the MSO. Bill of sale and statement of facts would work if it had been registered before and there was a record of it in the DMV computers. Or, you might get. Asympathetic dmv clerk, or one who isn’t sure of the process to convert a kayak form not needing to be registered to being registered. When the dealer handles the registration for your car or boat, they are turning in the MSO for you.

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