Welcome Aboard Keith,
Just about every one starts out the way you did. I did over 40 years ago when my dad and I bought our first boat a 27' Lures. You talk about work she was an old wooden lap strike boat but a beauty after we got her finished.
I wish we had a site like this to ask questions on. We had to rely on such places as Point Pleasant Hardware and some of the old boat works in Brielle,
Toms River and a few others I forgot already.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Again welcome aboard
Paul