[acabtp]

boat > 12' = titled vehicle. need to have the existing title signed over to you and pay ~$60 have the title transferred to your name. if there is not a current title available, current owner has to pay $60 for duplicate title to replace the lost one. if your buddy doesn't have the title and you can't contact his neighbor who moved you'll have to go through the lost/abandoned boat process.

motorized watercraft = needs registration numbers. anything with a motor is required to be registered in NJ. even a kayak or canoe which normally aren't titled or registered require reg numbers if you put a motor on it.

operating on freshwater = usually require a boat license, not just a safety certificate. the boat safety certificate is required of all operators of motorized watercraft in NJ and the boat license is required on non-tidal waters (freshwater) EXCEPT if the motor is < 1 hp, if the motor is a 12v electric, or if the boat is > 12' and the motor < 10 hp.

so you can skip the boat license, but you will have to title and register it. might as well just get the license too since you already have the BSC and have to go to MVC anyway.