Hi Jeff,

Here's my response to your criteria:

1) At your total crew weight, I would agree with what others have said and encourage you to look toward the 16' end--maybe even smaller. A larger boat can be a handful in even moderate winds w/ someone so small.

2)Most cats will easily meet your "relatively fun" requirement. Aside from a few dogs (anyone remember the Ventura Cat?), many older boats are still a blast solo. My '85 Trac 14 gives a pretty thrilling ride, especially with the spinnaker up.

3) Again, many older cats are easily obtained at relatively low $$. Just be diligent and patient in your search. If possible, take someone along who has experience when looking at a possibility.

Have fun and get out there on whatever boat you can. The great thing about buying a used sailboat is that, if in decent shape, you can always resell it and move to a different boat when the time is right. In other words, don't worry about finding the perfect boat for the next decade. And above all, stay safe out there on the water!

Kevin