I think he was talking about a large $,$$$ investment. A new tramp could set you back about $350 plus or minus a $100, depending on what you get and where. If you need new sails, that will set you back about $250 for the small one (the Jib) and about $700-1,000 for the big one, again, depending on what you get, new vs. used (I doubt you'll find suitable used sails for it, pretty rare) and if you get dacron vs. mylar sails, etc. It would be nice if the sails that you get are still in good shape, that will save you quite a bit of money.

Then there are the rudders...what shape are they in? Do they need any parts? Good luck finding any.

What about the mainsheet blocks? Did they come with the boat or are they lost in the back of some garage? You can't sail it without those and they are not cheap to buy new.

Then there is the trailor, is there one? Or none? A new cat trailor will set you back about $350-500. So you could be looking at about $2,000 in "stuff" to get it out sailing. If instead, everything is included and useable, rudders, sails, all lines, blocks, trailor, etc. you might be able to just wash it and go sailing.

When people offer me "free" boats, there is usually a reason, they usually need a lot of work and/or money to be sailing again. I hope that is not the case with your boat and you can get out sailing on it asap.

BUT, you also said you have no idea how to sail, so what you need to do right away is get to the local library and take out a "Learn to Sail" type book, read it, twice, then start asking more questions here. There may be an experienced cat sailor in your area who can help get you started. One day with someone who knows what they are doing will get you started and on your way. If you instead try to -go it alone- please wear a life jacket and do NOT go out if there are whitecaps on the water. Light to medium wind is much easier to deal with until you learn how to sail and control the boat in the big gusts.

I don't know where Hixon, TX is but there are quite a few cat racers here who do live in TX so maybe one of them is near to you and can get you going in the right direction.