answer:I know that in my state, several of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) offices register boats (including old ones with no real history on the books). State law will vary from place to place, but typically, a small boat (particularly with no motor) or those under a certain size (e.g., 12 feet in length) are very easy to register. You pay a fee ($12–15) and they assign a number (think license plate). In some places you have to know the hull number to register the boat, but it may not be necessary for a small craft. You confused me a bit with your description of a fishing boat and then your reference to sailing (does the boat have a mast?) Your Coast Guard reference is typical for most boats just indicating how many people the boat can safely handle (and how many life jackets should be on board). It is hard to say how much the boat is “worth.” If the transom is sound and it could hold a trawling motor and someone could use it for fishing, you might get a couple hundred for it. Look up “john boat” on google images and see if the boat looks anything like those pictured. If it also has a trailer, that could increase the value significantly.