Hey Tony,
You are correct - the list is overwhelming of the ships out there. I am sure that with your experience that you would not have a problem. Working with wood is another medium and another world.
I am sure that you are aware that with wooden kits, you are given a set of plans that can be about 24" x 36" or larger and depending on the size of the kit can be 8 to 10 pages alone. Then you have the manual which in "some" cases are lacking.
You can give two people the same ship and both will turn out with their own personalities. So, what does this have to do with anything.
i guess I am getting at is like you say the size. My first (really first) wooden boat was the Bluenose II and it still sits in the corner incomplete. I just do not have any desire for it - I think mainly is the reason I do not like that style. That was a very long time ago.
What got to me was all those Scuppers (openings along the deck to keep water out) that I had to drill out. Too much repetition for me back then. Every time I think about scuppers, I cringe.
Then I built a couple of plastic Jolly Roger and Captain Kidd to get a more feel of a sailing ship.
Then I went back and got up enough nerve to go with wood again - I was concerned about my lack of tools. So, I got the Model Shipways Sultana and actually started a Group Build with that a long time ago.
it took me exactly a year to make it. Then I really jumped off the big end and bought the Trinidad by OcCre and have had my hands full for about 4 1/2 years. I think I might have it completed by this time next year.
So, again - what does this have to do with anything. Well, it has to do with a starting point that will not wear you out. I do not think you want a ship / boat that will be so simple that it will not be a challenge, nor do you want something that when you take the lid off you will feel lightheaded !!!
I would steer away from the Mini-Mamoli - I personally do not have anything against them, but of what I can tell by the so called box art and some peoples reports, they are so small, that you do not get to enjoy the scale of it all. Everything becomes "representative"
However - I always say this and can't believe that I am saying this, but actually the larger the ship is, the easier it is to "build" !!! now, I did not say, it is easier as far as complexity. I am saying that the components of the ship are much larger that you have a more meaningful scale. The Armament has detail to it with rigging, etc. Where you actually build each cannon. Instead of having a one piece cannon stamped out of metal that has the "appearance" of a canon.
I can say that OcCre Trinidad did NOT go into a lot of trouble giving me their cannons because they are not good at all in the respect that they are not at all scale like. Which brings me almost to the end and that is to say that ALL wooden kits have "short comings" about them. None are perfect, but leave a lot of room for your imagination to go to work at.
So, all in all, I might as well give you MHO and maybe you can look at the Model Shipways Phantom. You said something about a powered boat. Well, I also built the Midwest Boothbay Lobster boat. I also put a motor in it - R/C the whole thing.
As a matter of fact, you can go to my main SOS website and take a look because I have a couple of videos on that Lobster boat in action and also two sailboats in action.
http://www.shipsofscale.com/videos
All in all, I think that I would stick with a "solid hull" ship first - fun to build - has a little rigging - take about 6 to 8 months to build or less depending. Then you should be able to tell from that experience what you like and what you don't.
If you choose the Model Shipways Sultana, I already have a build log on that one.
http://www.shipsofscale.com/Sultana/SCS01.html
However, there is one thing to consider. If you do get the Sultana or the Phantom, the box is going to be modest and when you open it you might think to yourself - Hummm -- is this all that is in this box !!!
But, you will soon see that there is more than meets the eye !!!
Good luck with your decisions.