Short version: Yet another
novice sailor doing
research
Longer version: I dreamed about boats when I was a kid, but didn't get a taste of sailing until a decade ago at the invitation of a Bay Area friend who was a seasoned mariner and a dependable person all around. I was still pretty young, so it took a few years before I could think seriously about
buying.
Researching that led to this site, and you guys have been very helpful.
(I haven't made any decisions yet, but the Douglas 32 looks pretty nice. If I were to go with something less conservative, there are two of Carters
for sale that look solidly built and have a lot of ballast carried deep.)