It would be a great first boat. That was my first boat 1969 venture 21. It had a 4 horse evinrude yacht win outboard. No reverse, to back it off the trailer I had to turn the motor 180 degrees. I sailed it from Dana Point to Catalina Island and back a few times. We slept on it for the weekend. I was young then and would not do that anymore. The boat is light and has a swing keel. She is tender, but we used to have fun burying the lee rail even the lee window! Pulled around with a Datsun p/u. It developed leaks on the chain plate bolts through the hull but it is an easy repair, also I had to replace the keel winch and cable, and then the lifting bolt in the keel which the winch cable attatches to rotted out, and I had to replace it. cheap boat but lots of fun.