Try as many as you can
Try to go out on every boat you can. There are a lot out there and they all have their good and bad points. There are boats that will make you spend more time doing repair and maintenence then others. There are some that cost more to maintain. There are some with all the goodies already installed and some that are still production line bare. You say you have had a Laser before. Well a big question is, are you going to want to scoot across a lake once in a while or cruise all the time. I'm not talking a race boat. But one that will not be left behind either. Check out a Yacht Club Regatta near you. See the different size boats in competition. Most are just regular folks out for fun. People like us. But in usual winds, with others aboard, you have to look at which boat is performing the way you, and yours, want to sail. People who have bought 26x's, did so for a reason, we bought for our reasons. There is never a need for an argument of who's boat is better. We bought a 1992 26s. We sail, motor, swim fish, snorkle, cook, have potty, gee just like everyone else, except my wife and I can tighten up on the sheets, heel him over and go by all, not some, all the x models. But we wanted that performance. It was also more cost friendly in a little older boat. BTW, was that US or Canadian dollars? HA-HA Like I said there are a lot out there. What do you want out of sailing in a bigger boat?