R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-8-4: Form and contents of registration certificate.

The registration certificate shall be in a form to be prescribed by the director, and shall indicate the name, address, and signature of the owner of the outboard motor, together with the horsepower, serial, and motor numbers, or other identification numbers of the motor; provided, however, that if no identification numbers appear upon the outboard motor, the licensing authority may assign a number to the motor upon sufficient documentation of ownership.