1973 Martinique stringers

Just fell into a 1973 Martinique for $1200 with the Chrysler engine. Interior is Good to partly crappy depending on where you look, stringers are soft around the edges but structurally solid at this point, hull is very solid, motor mounts are very solid. It runs like a fine watch. Figure I wont lose money even if it falls apart and I have to part it out?

I have a few quick questions.

1) Weep holes between stringers -   The previous owner left it uncovered and in the water all Summer so there was a good amount of water below the decking. When I pulled it out, the center section drained but the sections on either side stayed full. I sucked 10 gallons of water out via shop vac but shouldn't there be a weep hole between so the water settles in the middle and out the drain?

2) Winterizing - Owned lots of boats, never an inboard. Winterizing 101? Also, should I pull the decking (plan to replace anyway) to make double darn sure it's dry down there before it freezes or will nature take car of that in a few days?? Maybe a fan blowing under there???

3) Stringer rot reduction. - The boat is solid but I don't feel it's worth the $$$ to gut and replace. What can I do to prevent further damage??? Sealing it up would make it worse correct??? Any technique out there to prolong the life without a full root canal???

4) Value - I'm probably not keeping this one forever. I figure I'll clean it up, run it next year and upgrade. What's it worth? (I intend on full disclosure of condition)

Thanks in advance for any help

It is the Exhaust compartments that were full.. Is there a weep hole and if there is where is it located. I'm guessing it's plugged up?

I'll post interior pictures in the morning.

OK, so after taking it out today it seems the minor water intrusion is in the exhaust pockets, Lots (a liter or two in 45 minutes) on the passenger side and a little (cup or two) on the driver side. main pocket under the motor no problems short of normal shaft drips.

Leaky exhaust? Seals on the transom? What's the common problem?

So get the floor up, let it sit in the water and look for where it leaks??

Gary S wrote: pull up the floor and poke around. 42 years on a hose is pretty good,no car has hoses or an exhaust system last that long, especially one from the 70's

Tim,
Gary's suggestion is good but I'd like to add that once it's out of the water, you can get the hose in the bilge and add water. If the water comes out from the inside of the exhaust thru hulls then it may be hoses, a hose connection or cracked mufflers (if equipped - the early 70's is when CC started installing them) If outside the thru hulls, then it may be the bedding compound around the thru hulls. 42 years on hoses is long but, I've got 51 years on the original hoses in one of boats and they are still in great shape. One of the things that will deteriorate hose real quick is an overheat. Maybe your boat was run at one time with failed cooling? Feel the hoses or better yet look inside. An overheated exhaust hose typically will show delamination of the rubber layers.

Well I dropped it off today to have a full stringer and interior restoration done over the Winter. I pick it up in the Spring looking like new inside and out for $3500.

One last question. Looking at the manual online, it says max RPM is 4000. I'm getting more like 4500 RPM. I barefoot so need to get 45 mph out of her to drag my fat ass across the lake.

What should my RPM be at full throttle?

Yikes

I will post pictures and keep everyone updated. The shop doing it comes well recommended and I have used him before to restore a boat I had that had a fire (matched the gel coat perfectly). He does good work. He will give me a call this winter when he is ready to start to pick out vinyl colors and review the project. He does the fiberglass and his wife does the upholstery.

$3500 for all that work is beyond cheap.

4000 was the official rating on the 318. Possibly the 340 as well (the smaller 273 was rated at 4400)..

No problem spinning any of them to 4500. It's almost certainly a 318.