I'm with Dick Pluta, sailors are a friendly lot... get out on as many boats as you can so you get an idea of what works for you. We started with absolutely no knowledge or experience... just a desire to go cruising. Rather than do a long dissertation on how we went from know-nothings to today, you can visit CruisersLife.com to see how we did it.
Good Luck and don't give up your dreams!
Loree
Aboard SeaWolf
www.CruisersLife.com