Hi Andy135. Still looking to be honest - although slowed down with all this funny business going on.
Think Ive narrowed it down to the following
Seahog Commodore - seem very roomy for the length of boat, fairly light, not much draft and now have decent freeboard with new mould. Good price too.
Sea Champion 18 - self draining deck and again fairly roomy. I really do like the look of these and saw one at Southampton Boat Show some years ago. But they seem to be like hens teeth.
Raider 18 Cuddy - popular so lots of feedback which all seems positive and had a member helpfully send me photographs which shows they are again fairly roomy for size of boat. Not self draining (I dont think), not many about.
Warrior 175 - again, roomy and self draining deck and popular. BUT - these seem a tad heavy and also pretty expensive.
I know the seahog has a different hull, I know not all of them are self draining, I know some say that the rides are harder than others etc etc - BUT from what Ive seen on here and other sites - no boat has everything and all of above have their own merits.
Self draining not necessarily a clincher - just thought if would be helpful in case one came over the side off of St Catherines Point.
On that basis, if one of the above comes up for sale along the south coast or close by, is in decent nick with a good outboard - and of course is the right price - I am pretty sure I would just go ahead and purchase.
Thanks all for advice so far.