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"Also considering learning celestial navigation to cut down on costs of electronics"
I'd still want a GPS. Nothing wrong with having fairly reliable technology. There are also overcast nights for which sailing by the stars isn't all that feasible.
I think you want to give yourself the best chance in any eventuality, and a trip across oceans might give you the test of your life. Nevertheless, I think Hal Roth has put in hundreds of thousands of miles in ocean sailing and never had any serious weather problems. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong).
About the ferro-cement idea, I've read The Water In Between recently and the author did it on one of these. You're more prepared than he was, but I'd still go with a solid fiberglass boat with a large displacement.
If you're living at home, you can put away some seriously good money in a year or two. I'd vote for that and some messing around in local waters, testing yourself (with a good sailor with you) in ever more challenging situations. I think you can really prepare yourself well by staying within sight of shore and not risking your neck right off the bat with an inappropriate boat.
Save some cash, learn just a wee bit more, and buy yourself the essentials for a long cruise. That kind of plan you won't regret.
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