Take your time, learn as much as you can, tramp through boats endlessly, and be sure to get a very thorough
survey of any boat you bid on. Be aware that old boats like Chris Crafts often have endless problems, and you'll have to figure on a
maintenance budget of 20%-30% of the
purchase price annually for an old boat unless you are really, really handy and resourceful.
Yacht brokers can be helpful, but many are reluctant to
work with an inexperienced buyer seeking a perfect boat for a bargain price. Brokers know they are usually facing endless hours of hand-holding and education to obtain a skimpy commission. However, the yacht brokerage market has been utterly moribund for the past year so you may find brokers are happy to
work with you right now.
I second the previous post that you should stick to a
diesel boat, and I would add the recommendation that you stick to
fiberglass Chris Crafts. Old wooden Chris Crafts are difficult to resell and will cause you never-ending, expensive
maintenance issues.