Welcome to SBO and congrats on your new to you boat.
If you have been out on the water with her, then I am guessing you have crawled in to every nook and void of the boat with a flashlight to see what is there.
sailboatdata.com
You have assured yourself that the boat is doing her job of keeping the water on the outside (primary responsibility of a boat).
Knowing that the water stays out of the boat, means you can take her to the water and play safely.
Next issues would be:
- Are you sure the mast is solid and will stand up to what Mother Nature will throw at it?
- Are you sure that the boat will go where you want to point it?
- Can you get back on the boat if you fall off?
- Are you willing to sit in the water till the wind shows up, or do you have a secondary power source?
- Is the secondary source one you can rely on?
- Do you have the required safety gear on board and enough for you and crew?
With the basics taken care of, then it is all about knowing where you are and where you want to go.
- Charts (maps), chart plotters, compasses etc. are the tools of navigation.
- Knowing the weather you are going to experience is critical to a safe and fun time.
- Being able to get somewhere and back in a boat is much like knowing how to get to the grocery store and back with the food.
If you are finding things on the boat that are foreign to you, the forum is a great place to ask about them. Having explored a map and decided on a place to explore, the forum is a great place to ask if anyone has been there and what might you expect.
Good luck and I look forward to reading about your adventures. Boat pictures are always a hit here.