Okay with this my advice will definately be : Prindle 16, nacra 5.0 or nacra 500, Hobie 16 and nacra 5.2. I wouldn't go bigger than 17 foot and would not worry at all about daggerboard or not having daggerboards. I don't agree that P18-2 or any 18 cat would be a good choice with the exception of Prindle 18 and Nacra 5.7 (570) Most of the 18 to 19 foot boats are not great singlehanders when you look at safety and comfortable sailing in anything over 10 knots of wind.

While I definately a "go fast" and technology junky (that is why I sail F16) I would advice to go for the simpler boats in your situation. They will give the most bang for 3000 bucks or (much) less. If you opt for a more modern 16 footer like the nacra 5.0 or mystere 5.0 than these can later easily be upgraded with a spinnaker and do well (handle well). So that is why I perfer to advice these boats. I believe they cna grow more with your needs and wishes over time. Hobie 16 would be very good choice in most area's because of the class racing but I appears that Florida is not a particular active area in this respect.

An Isotope would be a very good choice all-round IF you can find it at offered second hand at 3000 US$ which I doubt.

If I had to make a choice would go hunting for second hand Isotopes, nacra 5.0's and mystere 5.0's. With Prindle 16 and Hobie 16 on the second row and 18 footer on the third row, but only just.

Wouter