When an applicant for a certificate of title presents to the Department of Natural Resources proof that he has purchased or acquired a watercraft at a public sale as authorized by this Article and such fact is certified by the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the public sale of the watercraft, the Department shall issue a certificate of title for the watercraft upon receipt of the statutory fee and a properly executed application for a certificate of title. The title issued by the Department under this Section shall be free of any lien that existed against the watercraft prior to the time the watercraft was acquired by the applicant under this Article.
625 ILCS 45/3C-12