You should buy whatever you can afford the newer the better immediately drain your bank account on the latest,fastest,prettiest damn thing you can get your salty little paws on before somone else snatches up that deal and your left stuck on some pile of crap out at sea, if your lucky. D'ont let the "Nellies" talk you into something safe and easy.You want safe and easy then go rent a "Wave" for a week in any weather they will let you out in.This question comes up a lot.Most of the advice is given by "Racers" who can not understand that you could get a titanium/teflon/kevlar reinforced spinach sucking rocket ship but you alone still decide what day and conditions and how far you want to go.Even the most experienced bang themseves or there boats up. Learn from it and enjoy.