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This past weekend my uncle surprised me by telling me he will be giving me his 1978 Martinique as he does not have the time for it anymore. He bought it about 8 years ago and the boat ran great. Pulled tubes and skiers strong with no issues. I always told him that when the time came that he wanted to get rid of it let me be the first one to put in an offer. So great news is I'm in the boat for free, bad news is the boat has set on a lift for about 4 years without being run...at all. I don't know a whole lot about the boat besides it has a 351 and it had an overheating issue before he put it up.

From research on this site I have found the first thing I need to check when I get the boat on a trailer is the motor mounts to see if the stringers are still good. I have no clue if they where previously replaced before he bought the boat or not. The next thing would be go through the whole engine with a fine tooth comb to make sure there are no major issues.

I have decent mechanical abilities and am very familiar with the 351, I have a 1978 F150 with a 351 block. I have zero skill when it comes to carpentry or upholstery so if the stringers are shot is there somewhere around middle Georgia somebody would recommend getting this work done?

I am very excited about this opportunity because and this will be my families second correct craft. My parents own a 2007 SAN 220. I understand it could take a lot of time and money to get this boat back in it prime condition but the way I look at it is I got the boat for free so hopefully i can spend a couple thousand and have a sharp looking Martinique. I appreciate everybody's feed back in advance.

Hi and welcome to CCF.

One thing to keep in mind is you have a 351W in the boat and your 78 F-150 also has a 351 but it's most likely a 351M, but could be a 351W

The M is a totally different engine with not much of anything in common with the W.

The quickest way to tell at a glance is to look at the valve covers.

The M was never used in a boat.

I'd probably get the engine running and figure out the overheating issues and run it this year. unless the stringers are really terrible.

Somebody else will come along and talk about stringers, but it sounds like you've been doing your research already

Change the RWP impeller right away too!

SNobsessed wrote: Change the RWP impeller right away too!

Should have been stated in my post! A MUST.

have kept our boats on Oconee for years, and for years wanted to try Sinclair, Always been led to believe it's not nearly as nice, turns out so wrong!.... finally did Sinclair week before last, what a great day..such a nice lake...and not a single tree,haha...

Saw maybe 5 boats all day, but it was a Thursday, will have to try a weekend day.

Sinclair is a nice lake Jeffey and you're right no trees but it is just as dirty as Oconee and yes its really busy on the weekends.

Brad looks like she's in pretty good shape. You'd be surprised what a good buffing on her will do to shine her up a bit and if the interior is decent shape a good cleaning followed by some 303 protectant will liven her up as well..

New Orleans? Then in the meantime you need an airboat...

Just today checked out one parked for sale in Savannah. Never seen one up close before, so simplistic in design. Big-ass 520 engine,fan, straight exhaust, and a radiator, that's it.

Just a gas pedal, and a big lever attached to steering fins behind the fan. With no apparent reverse I would imagine it's like docking a floatplane...set yourself up, kill it, and coast in (but without the benefit of float rudders).