I've been sailing small "cruising" sailboats (sailing canoe, kayaks, little boats) for many years before I jumped into "performance catamaran sailing". I tried get as many rides as possible on beach cats, H16, N5.5, rented Waves, etc... Finally, I placed an add on A-cat mailing list. I was looking for old, absolite A-cat. I got my wooden A-cat for $500... Transition from sailing I've done before to new level was flowless. Boat was just right. It didn't seems much heavier than boats I was sailing before. Loads are same. Level of fitness about the same. Speed was unbelievable...
Finally, after few years of racing in the club on portsmouth, I decided that i need faster boat. I got Inter F17. Monster boat. Transition acctually was more painfull now, from one "performance boat" to another. Sure, I was faster across the line. As well as I had more bruses and sore hands. However, after racing my first Statue Of Liberty Race in 2003 on old A-cat I was 29th on corrected time. In 2006, i was 32 corrected on Inter F17... And a lot more tiered.

Repairs on my old $500 wooden boat were simple - get some good plywood and epoxy and spend a day working. Gougeons cracked? Go to nearest welding shop and spend 20 backs...

Should I say that I waited for new parts for F17 for 2 months in the middle of the season?

Last year I kept both boats on a beach. I ended up sailing A-cat more, just becouse it's easier. Not just easier to sail, but easier all around, easier to move on land, easier to right if you flip it, easier to fix it.

Try to find an old wooden A-cat.