Bought my first sailboat, San Juan 23

[Saint Somewhere]

Hey, I'm new to this forum and I guess I skipped the introduction and then I couldn't find where to do that so please forgive me. After years of dreaming and scheming and waiting for the kids to grow up, I finally bought a sailboat. I live in middle Tennessee so the choices for sailboats were quite limited, unless I wanted to drive 500 miles one way.
Anyway, I finally found a diamond in the rough, I think. I know this will not be a world cruiser, but it will serve a purpose; it will be something adequate enough to learn how to sail.
It is a 1981 San Juan 23. I had looked at a Catalina 22 a few weeks prior and it seemed tiny and light. The SJ seems to have a lot more room inside and to be a lot heavier/sturdier boat. I would love to hear any opinions on this matter.
I only paid $2200 for the boat, but it has a very good galvanized, dual axle trailer, and a 2001 model Mercury 15HP outboard. So I thought that was a reasonable price. It still needs some work. It needs new lines, some new rigging (shrouds, blocks, lifeline, etc...) and some sail repair, and a little work on the rudder, and a new tiller handle.
But my goal is to have her in the water by next summer, on Percy Priest Lake in Nashville. Oh and she needs some paint too. If I can figure out how to add pics I will do that soon.
Thanks in advance for any opinions/advice.

[chris mac]

Welcome to the forum, and congrats on the boat! Our first was a San Juan 7.7. San Juan's are great sailing boats, you will have a lot of fun with her.
Repairs and upgrades are important, but dont let it overshadow the actual sailing. Make sure you get out on the water and have some fun too.

[Sparx]

Welcome to the forum. Your San Juan is a great boat for inland lakes and even coastal waters. These boats move well in the light and shifty winds common on Tennessee lakes. We have sailed Dale Hallow Lake, tying up in any of the secluded Coves. With that trailer you can pull her anywhere...Apostle Islands of Lake Superior, Lake Huron North Channel, Kentucky Lake to name a few I like. And dont miss out on scallop season in the St Joe Florida area. Lots of fun.