Help: Old Boat New Buy

Greetings CCF Members.

We are new ski fans and have purchased a 1988 Martinique BR. It was advertised on CCF.com previously. We KNOW it needs a lot of TLC, but the wife is in love with the Martinique BR series and 'just had to have it'. I am a pontoon and small engine repair man, but this new hobby is all new to me. I am prepared to learn from you all who are willing to take the time replying to this forum. I have uploaded pictures for visual view of my concerns.

THE ENGINE. The engine is a Ford PCM 351W with under 1000 hours. It's dirty, but runs. So far I have new high performance marine distributor with high performance coil, new mechanical fuel pump. new fuel lines to the tank, a new sending unit, and replaced old water separator, and put in a new fuel gauge.

BILGE. We have put the boat in the water once and notice that overnight about 1.5 inches of water settles in the back third of the boat underneath. I am sure we will learn what normal is, but wondering now if that is a concern that I should focus on right now. I intend on putting an automatic bilge pump on it soon.

WOODEN STRINGERS. The seller (twice removed) advertised that the wooden stringers were all replaced but for the life of me, I can't see them. I know we will be replacing the carpet and part of the flooring, because the plywood is soft just behind the engine in front of the bench seat. I am sure we will see the stringers when we remove the carpet and plywood, but haven't made visual on them yet.

THE EXTERIOR. There are chips in the fiberglass in places but overall it is in good condition. I don't know what constitutes 'need to repair' versus 'it's okay to leave alone'. While the advertisement for the sale of the boat said the seats were all 'redone', for some crazy reason, the old plywood was used. It is all completely saturated and rotted. While the engine is first priority, my wife is very interested in replacing all the upholstery.

BENCH SEAT. The most awkward part of the boat is the replaced captain chair and passenger chair with a bench seat. You have to squeeze around the bench seat to get to the back of the boat. We are hoping it wasn't placed to cover something up underneath, but it is a crazy layout and one that will definitely be replaced back to its original design.

THE PROP. I have never worked with a boat with a prop before, but know the one currently on the boat needs replaced or rebuilt. I guess there are 'prop shops' around, but don't know the size of prop for our boat.

MANUALS. If I could find a manual for the engine and for the 1988 Martinique BR so I have a reference for what I need to learn or problem solve.... my birthday is next week and I am sure my wife wouldn't mind this as a birthday present for me. I am old school and need manuals at my fingertips.

Hola, welcome!

To add to Pete's post, check the reference section for manuals.
Good luck!