I would caution any newbie from jumping directly into boat ownership. Take
your time, learn to sail, and charter boats for the first year or so.
Chartering will provide you multiple benefits:

1. make mistakes on someone else's boat (always preferable)
2. the opportunity to sail different size boats with a variety of hull
designs
3. learn how to work with boat systems at a more leisurely pace

One of the best reasons to charter prior to buying is to learn, from
experience, how many days you would actually sail in a year. This will help
you decide how much money you should invest in a boat, if any. Several
friends have opted to continue chartering because they simply don't get out
enough to warrant the purchase of a boat and all that it entails. Take a
look at any marina on a beautiful Saturday and you'll see hundreds of
examples of people who thought they wouldn't be sitting at the dock.

Regards,

Louis
s/v Synergy
Westsail 32 #679
"Todd" none wrote in message ...
This is an awfully loaded question (and one stemming from complete
ignorance), but is there a general consensus within the sailing community
as
to a size and type of sailboat that a novice should learn on if one is
thinking of purchasing a boat?

tia.

Todd.