Welcome Aboard Brian:
Your story sounds very much what i had planed back in 1986...I was weary of working Prudhoe bay and had 80K in the bank..I was 26 years old.
I had quit the slope and was getting things ready to leave ...and was headed to Florida to go to bar tending school so I could get a job at some yacht club or marina bar sailing hangout so as to be able to get invited on as many boats as i could to figure out which one best suited me.. Then crew up ( Think G-strings)..
and set off to where ever..........Well..................
my S.O. walked into my life ...it has taken 20 years to get my boat...but my first mate looks great in a G-string still today...
..and I now have 4 women (3 beautiful daughters) to share the sailing experience with.
I use to be in the camp of "You cant get a good boat for that price" but not any more...to many people have managed to do it...shoot...Zack Sutherland paid 6K for his boat befor upgrading it for his RTW campaine.
GO FOR IT!! you only live once my friend..where there is a will there is a way.