I would heartily recommend buying a boat that you can practise getting sticky on as the intermediate step. Ideally this would be glass/carbon and with stuff you do to it - snout, kick bars, tail pipes, t-foil give a huge ammount of knowledge for the actual build itself. This is what we did with Born Slippy and the Kirk's with Slippery When Wet (although the new boats are not yet proof that this results in finished boats).
As a benefit you can also sail the Cherub, monster and have an absolute giggle. Peni's always seem to suck away the cash and still remain uncompetitive in the meanwhile.
The Kirks prove that a dog in the right hands is still on the pace (although less said for us in a slug). I'm guessing that both of us will have to part with our boats post nationals and I'd highly reccomend racing stanley this year and keeping in touch with the potential boats out there that are goign to come up for sale.
<<Declaration of interest - I may have to selll my boat in the near future when the one in the shop is ready, but I think I already have the next home for her arranged>>
