Brand New 1979 Ski Nautique - Never Started

I have a brand new 1979 Correct Craft Ski Nautique which has been kept in a warehouse and never put into water.
I'm going to use the boat for the very first time and I was wondering if any one can help with what specific engine parts I should check first or replace before the boat is put in the water and the engine is turned on..

That is an amazing find. Please post some pics and the story that goes with it. There's a lot you should do and the site's experts will chime in and offer suggestions.

Stuff I can think of is new fluids, impeller, tune up and making sure the pistons, valves and push rods are free.

Holy fawk.

Yes, best bar it over slow a few revolutions before utilizing the starter. Front pulley turns CCW

Check point gap, refresh surface on points. Fresh fuel filter element, perhaps.

Cool boat. Can't wait to hear the story behind this find.

Just in case -- its missing a belt to the RWP.

Those pics are 7 years old and appear to be someone's basement.

I agree, what is the story on that boat?

I agree, sell it back to the factory or to the water ski museum and go get something else.
Don't take a museum piece like that and go ski it. Its one of one !!!

It looks like it's pretty nicely preserved but am I the only one seeing evidence of use, updates, etc? Rub rail, trailer bunk carpet, front scoop vinyl?

I wonder about the rubber line from pump to carb. Didn't think oem's did that. I'd just use it,they were not made to be museum pieces. That said I would never use it in saltwater

Finally out typed someone

While I was blowing up the picture to 500% so that maybe I could read what the exhaust manifold said, 2 yellow butt style crimp connectors jumped right out at me, they're hiding behind the carburetor. Original?

And I still couldn't convince myself that I knew what was on the manifolds, maybe Commander?

TRBenj wrote: It looks like it's pretty nicely preserved but am I the only one seeing evidence of use, updates, etc? Rub rail, trailer bunk carpet, front scoop vinyl?

Speaking of hood scoop, didn't the 79' come with that big honk'n embossed metal on top of the molded in scoop? if so, this would be a 78' SN, no??

I do see some issues with the rail and perhaps inside carpet, but that doesn't mean the thing wasn't bounced around and used for storage for most of its time in storage.. Looking at the inside of the engine cover, this baby is pretty darn new looking to me..

KENO wrote: And I still couldn't convince myself that I knew what was on the manifolds, maybe Commander?

Yes cast aluminum commander manifolds

Your the only one being a little biatch stfu
everyone else is making observations, so yeah, let him have his time in the sun

Hi Guys, I see a lot of interest from every one on how I found this boat and the story behind it. The fact is that my dad was the distributor for Correct Craft in Iran before the revolution. We had ordered this boat from the factory, tried to cancel it because of the unrest but it was too late and the ship had already sailed.

As a result around fall of 1979 the boat arrived and it's been sitting in our warehouse ever since. Every time I came back for a visit and see this boat I want to know what is the best way to preserve it and make sure it is in perfect running shape. To address the concern some of you guys had about recreational use of this boat, let me say that I've been skiing and been around boats for about 50 years and I know how valuable this boat is to people who have passion and love the sport.

Also to answer some of your questions I should note that the climate is pretty dry here and the boat is in great shape, It has a Ford / Commander engine and every thing is factory installed and original. I'm not a mechanic but I think some of the hoses or the rubber parts have to be checked and/or replaced prior to turning the boat on, however, if some one can really provide expert technical advise I would gladly take it into consideration.

Please let me know if you guys have any other questions or need additional information. I thank every one for the their time and interest and look forward to your replies.