I agree with Andrew. Older beach cats don't depreciate much; you can sail the heck out of 'em and then basically sell them in a year or two for the same price, or nearly so (assuming you didn't overpay). And there's no better way to learn what you'd ultimately like to have than to get on the water. The older, major production boats in the 16' realm are typically solid and versatile, and after sailing one for a season, you'll have a good idea what will fit your needs better. Just take someone more experienced with you when shopping, or read the advice you can find on this site re: how to find a good boat (avoiding delamination, etc.)