Haven't built a website in 10 years, HELP!

[exoticwelding]

While I know my way around the internet and work as an electronic tech with computers, I am defiantly not a webmaster. Ten years ago I built a professional looking website to promoted motivational tapes for a large company of a friend using Geocities. However, back then text, different colors, pictures and links was the extent of most webpages. So aside from using the extinct Geocities page builder, a web based HTML drag and drop editor, several years ago I have no website building experience.

Recently, a few months ago, I decided to use my free time to built a website. This website will be an informative website for the repair of 4-wheelers. I will have an area of links that lead to separate pages of embedded "how to" video's with specs and text instructions below, a forum, picture gallery, news article area, and possibly a blog are other possibilities. A site I really like the lay out and graphics of is pirate4x4 .com
My first strategy was to research and buy a software for building websites. However, I found that many web host offer free tools to build websites. I played with different hosting service tools for weeks. The only one that slightly impressive me was Wix and their flash based building tool. While it was nice I feel it had limitations. I may would of went this route but I read 100's of complaints about bad hosting service. Upon more research I subscribed to a 2-year blue host hosting plan and bought a URL. I read and heard lots of good things about Wordpress so I installed it. After playing with it for a week I uninstalled it and installed Drupal. I played with it for a week before researching and finding out that these are CMS not web building apps. I later played with Weebly, I was able to make webpages but they are basic, far less quality than Wix's flash builder offered.

I reinstalled Wordpress however I now realize I made a circle. I believe I just need a little guidance.

1. Where do I start? With a CMS or with an HTML or Flash based website building software?
I prefer something like the old Geocities Page, however, I don't care to be restricted to layouts and templates.
2. How about graphics and backgrounds? Should I have pictures, logos, and graphics as my first step?
3. If you had to guess what do you think was used to build the site pirate4x4 .com from start to finish including the graphics, CMS(or does it even have one), and other tools used to build the site?

Thanks for you time I greatly appreciate your response.

[webcosmo]

flash is dying. we are having html5, jquery and all sort of cool stuffs now.

since you already have some experience getting to know the new technologies probably would be best. html, css, jquery, php (if into programming), mysql(if into database) etc etc.

[ScriptMan]

Right down there at the bottom of the page pirate is:

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 RC 2 ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.

Same software this site is using.

Probably with a custom skin (theme).

[abctradelinks]

there are some good animation can be done in jquary and java

[deepgwb]

CMS is the best option for you as you have some experience in designing a website..and ibest CMS is WordPress..It does not require much of the technical knowledge,very easy to design website in Wordpress,It is user and SEO friendly.

[williamxaviers]

I would rather like to say that CMS and HTML5 are the good options for such a website that you are planning to develop. As you have some experience, you must be knowing that HTML5 has many included features in it and other than that, CMS provides a dynamic look to the website.

[skpearl]

To get with latest technology. Go for HTML5 and CSS3.0.