what kind of fleets are in your area?

are there any other sailors out there with boats like the ones you have your eyes on? Sometimes the decision needs to be made after a test-sail. Having another boat around to trade tuning and rigging tips with also helps out a ton.

I wouldn't worry TOO much about righting any 17' cat solo. There are plenty of righting systems out there that can be used to help you right the boat. Righting poles, water bags, solo-rights... do some searches on the site and find out more about the different options available.