Anchors Aweigh: What We Learned Buying Our First Sailboat
Published 3:24pm on 10 Sep 2026
If you are considering purchasing a sailboat, Zumi Sims has some great advice for you. Zumi and her husband Matthew purchased their first sailboat this past February. After carefully weighing their options, they decided to purchase a 30-foot Hunter Sailboat named La Dolce Vita.
After retiring from the military, where Zumis career led the decision-making, Zumi promised to help Matthew pursue his goal of sailing around the world once they retired. This is obviously a huge undertaking that requires extensive planning before setting sail on such an epic journey. Zumi and Matthew have a five-year plan of learning everything they can about sailing before setting off on their journey.
The first thing is to make sure you dont get seasick. The open ocean is very different from a river or a lake. If you can handle the roll of the sea, you are ready to start on your journey. The next goal is to learn how to sail. Zumi took on American Sailing Association (ASA) courses 101, 103, and 104, then joined OWSA to gain more hands-on experience. During the first year, she realized that she was not very fond of sailing but was determined to be a good crew member and leaned into her strengths as a mechanic, while Matthew took on the role of Skipper.
Zumi was an Engineer in the Air Force, involved in base infrastructure and mission support. These skills lend themselves well to learning the boat's mechanics. Matthew flew helicopters, so his piloting skills went well with being the skipper of the boat.
The size of the boat to learn on was an important factor for Zumi and Matthew. Their first boat is a learning boat, not the one they will take around the world. But they did want one that would be comfortable to cruise with the family, but simple enough that they could still sail with two adults. When choosing a boat for any purpose, there are many factors to consider, including its intended use. For Zumi and Matthew, it was about learning to sail and working together as a crew. You could have different goals such as racing or living on a sailboat. Thinking about your goals and what you will need is an important step.
Financial considerations are also important. Not only do you have the purchase price to consider, but also where you will moor the boat, the cost of insurance, title, registration, and, of course, maintenance.
If you are planning to sail or race with a crew, make sure you work well together. Sailing is a team activity, and you need to be able to problem-solve and work together. Plan for the unexpected as much as possible. Even something as simple as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) needs consideration. Do you plan to go in the water? If so, a foam PFD would be a better choice than paying for a recharging kit each time you use your PFD.
Some considerations once you have decided on the size and style of boat include whether the former owner kept good records of all maintenance and repairs. This will help decrease any unexpected surprises. It also shows if they took good care of the vessel. A survey is also as critical as an inspection is when buying a house.
Zumi was fortunate to find a mentor with the same size and style of boat. Her Mentor has been a valuable resource, sharing her expertise and experience. Becoming familiar with your boat is crucial. If there is a mechanical problem, can you limp it to shore to do repairs? She has learned the importance of having spare parts on hand, the value of a working system to compare your boat to, and being a good neighbor at your marina and sailing community.
In her second year, Zumi also joined the BOAST program as a crew member. She is a crew member on Salud as well as the fleet manager for all three boats. This past year, she spent a lot of time getting the two new boats ready for the season and responding to the crew's maintenance requests during the season. Using the knowledge she has gained, she enjoys hosting maintenance workshops for the BOAST members to help teach about overcoming the challenges you may face as a boat owner.
If you are planning a long trip or to live on your boat, can you be a minimalist? There isnt much room for extra things onboard. Zumi feels this will be a huge challenge for her, as she considers herself a maximalist. Open discussions and the crew's roles are very important before you set sail. Zumi and Matthew are also bringing their son along, which will add some additional challenges and also be an amazing thing to share as a family.
Not everyone has the monumental goal of sailing around the world. However, Zumi has some great advice on thinking about your goals and needs to help you choose the right sailboat for you. I am so looking forward to hearing how the epic journey turns out!
