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Updated: ( days ago)
Originally Posted:
Total Views: 4,289
Owner: Rod Richardson
Location: Huntsville, AL

Model: 1972 Martinique
Length: 18
Engine: Chrysler 318
HP: 225
Hours:

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This is my 1972 Correct Craft Martinique. I bought the boat in April of 1980. It’s a three-owner boat, as far as I know it has always lived in North Alabama, and has lived on Guntersville Lake from at least the mid-70’s. This Martinique has the 318 Chrysler with the Velvet Drive transmission.

When I bought the boat the hull was dingy and the interior had been redone, poorly, in tan. I spent the first summer addressing small mechanical issues and making the hull white again. I enjoyed the boat year around throughout the early and mid-80’s, skiing even in the coldest months.

In the late 80’s I did a no-expense spared interior restoration. I removed every interior component, remanufactured the front and rear seat frames, replaced every floorboard panel in 0.75 inch marine plywood, and had everything reupholstered in the highest quality material I could find. I don’t believe the original floorboards were carpeted, they appeared to have been covered with a type of water resistant vinyl material. When the interior was redone in tan, they simply applied brown indoor/outdoor carpet over the entire floor surface, making access to steering and exhaust and the like difficult. When I replaced the carpet, I individually carpeted each of the floor panels. One thing I found interesting, when trying to find a nice dark blue carpet for the project I looked at lots of new boats to see who had the highest quality carpet in the right color. At the time Mastercraft had a very high quality, dark blue carpet. I called Mastercraft to see how I might get some of this carpet and they sent me what I needed, free! They even paid the shipping.

In the mid-90’s I decided that a complete water jacket, exhaust redo was in order and bought all the parts to do that. It took a few years before I got around to it, but I stripped the engine down, cleaned it, repainted and detailed everything, and reassembled. This was just a couple of years ago. When I put the boat back in the water I spent the first two days just idling around the marina checking vital signs and all went well. That is until it dropped an exhaust valve, fortunately at idle, and shattered a piston and bent a connecting rod. The engine is now repaired and reassembled, patiently sitting on the engine stand and waiting to go back in the boat. This should happen in the next month or so.

That’s the basic story of this 1972 Martinique. I have trailored it twice, once on it’s maiden voyage, and a couple of days later to climate-controlled dry storage. One thing is for sure; I have never seen another Martinique here in North Alabama. It’s been a great boat and I plan to keep it forever. I would like to hear from other Martinique owners.

Rod R
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