Saving for retirement, advice for first boat!

[AliArcher]

Hello!

1st post and hopefully in the right place.

So I'm 36 and decided to go the route of buying a boat to live on and eventually sail around a few places. It will be a few years until I can afford to buy one outright or earlier if I finance it. I currently have quite a bit spare a month I'm putting by for it. Not much but a start! When I was younger I looked at doing it but relationships and jobs got in the way, now I'm free I'm going for it again. I scuba dive a lot and have been on quite a few boats but have not sailed myself.

I would like people to give any relevant advice or tips etc on my plan !

I shall be looking to do some RYA courses to obviously make sure I get on ok with sailing and can handle it etc !
During this educational time I shall be saving and lookin into various catamarans. I have taken a liking for the Lagoon series due to the space and layout so any advice on these would be great. Also I like the idea of stability of a catamaran.
Depending on financial timescale I shall purchase a boat and refurbish or upgrade etc to make good for living aboard. I'm not sure pros and cons of buying something to do up or somethin in perfect condition.

I am at square one on this so any advice would be great! I'm based in Kent England so plenty of marinas too!

Thanks
Alastair