several points to consider,
ffgal
i looked for and reseached boats just under 2 yrs, talked w/ boat owners and your situation sounds similar to mine; easy to launch, light, versatile, one person operation and the best deal out there.
i choose a 16 ft aluminum for lightness & durability, open bow for casting and pulling crab traps, galvanized trailer for salt water is a must and most importantly, a 70hp Yamaha outboard for reliability!
i fish the sound, tidewater on the snohomish, crabbing and sking. i tow it w/ a 3.0 v6
i went to traderonline.com and entered key words yamaha and aluminum.
mine came from oregon and when i registered it, i had to provide a total weight to the d.o.t. it weighed 1980 lbs. i found out that if it is under 2000lbs, it is registered like a utility trailer vs like a car. it cost me $13 this year in tax.
be patient your boat is out there. if you search daily you will become familiar with the market and know your boat when you see it. when you do see it, make the move fast.