Looking to buy a ’69 Barracuda

I am hoping to convince the current owner to part with his baby. While I have spent quite a bit of time growing up on and around the water this will be my first powerboat. I have done limited skiing behind friends boats and am really looking forward to having my own boat. I have been reading the other posts about buying vintage Correct Crafts and have some more questions.
The gellcoat has allot of cracks below the waterline. Which from what I have been reading is not a structural concern. Or should I be worried?
I have just seen the boat where it is stored in the garage and am trying to arrange to see it in the water. How loud should I expect the boat to be? I saw one suggestion about installing a muffler. From the pictures I have seen there does not appear to be room for one or should I really worry much? While I love my extreamly loud street rod I don't think I would want to be tied to the bumper and listen to it bellow all afternoon. Are my noise concerns reasonable?
I have read about checking to see if the propeller shaft moves in neutral and for water leaks but am unsure what else boat specific I should check? Dings in the prop sort of thing I can figure out but don't want to overlook something because of inexperence.
Should I consider a unlisted phone number for when the summer weather finally gets here and everyone wants to be my new best friend?
Thanks
Chris

He originally said $3,000. In the last 7 years the interior has been redone, engine and carb rebuilt, replaced the tires and boat cover. It looks great and I keep drooling as I look at the pictures. I have picked up ski vests and found a vintage how to ski book to go with the boat allready.

Looks great! I love that color green. Get rid of thoose cars and get the boat before it's gone.

We look forward to hearing more and seeing more pictures posted to the Diaries section soon.

-Keith

I own a 1969 Barracuda, Ivory deck & sides,and it has been a very good boat. It turns a lot of heads. It has a Chrsyler Marine 220 in it and it sounds fantastic. You can definitely hear it across the lake, but when people stop by the dock they always say "I love the sound of your old inboard, so much better than whiny PWCs.." stuff like that.It has a very throaty, bass-y sound. Idled down it quietly rumbles, so no problem cruising around at night slowly... I am currently installing a bench seat in the front that can turn around (the 69's had front facing seats) to observe the kids skiing better and I'm putting a bucket in for me. I hate to "un-originalize" a classic, but I have 5 kids, they all ski and it is impractical to have them knotted up facing backwards in a forward facing seat (& the 5 kids make buying a newer boat pretty much a non-issue) So, I can highly recommend the 'cuda. Good luck.

Ah yes, The Hood River Barracuda! Look's like a great boat. Like Kenny posted, look closely at the primary stringers, test the floor, especially under the seats. Check the shaft for straightness, and to see if the rudder and shaft carrier are straight. You sound like a motor head, check cylinder compression, and if you can, get her out on the water, and try her out. As for the noise, I own a 66 318 polyhead, and the best seat on the boat is: the back "couch" as I like to call it, the only better place, is out of the boat, on 65 ft. of ski rope! I would love to copy the observers seat for mine! And wish it was closer to me! Nothing I have ever been towed behind compares to my boat. I've been skiing for almost 40 years. If I can get up on a slalom in less than 3 seconds, it has to be the boat!