I too have been boat shopping the last month or so for a smallish jon boat, restricting myself to the somewhat local area that I would be willing to drive to for a look. Maybe its because small, cheap boats are more likely to be involved in cash deals with friends and relatives, but I have contacted two Craigslist advertisers whose photos showed expired registration stickers to ask if the boat was registered to them, and neither replied. I didn't even tell them a bill of sale would be required; I can imagine what the response to that would have been. I've watched enough Judge Judy to know that I don't want to go near a registered item that is not registered to the seller. Not worth the potential hassle even for a $400 boat-there's too many of them out there.