If you are in the So Cal area and would like to participate in any organized events you should seriously consider the Hobie 16 or a Formula 18. The 16 will be way less money to buy.

If you do not care and are only going to sail by yourself in a vacuum there are plenty of choices. You should make sure that you get a boat which you can by parts for. You will be breaking a used boat especially if it has not been maintained.

The advantage of a daggerless beach cat is that you can run it up on the beach without worry. Not good for the boat but fun if you do not care too much about it.

Later,
Dan