Hi there. My best
advice is to get out there and find the right boat right away. Also if you can't find the right boat ahead of your launch date, then push back your launch date.
Regarding my own experience, a custom
steel ketch was purchased 3 months ago. The plan was to get the boat into the
water in two and a half months, to
refit the
interior,
rebuild a
diesel, a total bottom job, topsides
paint, etc. A total
refit. Even getting just the basics done, the bottom job and
rebuild, took that period of time. Basically, now the boat is on the
water, and I've not had a minute to actually plan the
cruise itself. Thus, when estimating time, as one estimates sailboats and money, double or triple your estimate.