Sailing Uma · video

What this video covers

Dan and Kika of Sailing Uma answer audience questions from a mountain lake house while a two-week lumberyard closure halts their boat refit. The closure delays installation of tertiary bulkheads, face frames, and a full interior repaint — a single spray-gun prime coat that will turn Uma's interior from green and brown to white in one day. On the refit itself, they explain their plan to avoid boat loans: debt forces continuous income pressure, mandates comprehensive insurance, and lets the bank dictate where and when they can sail. Their dream next boat is a custom 50–60-foot aluminum design with twin electric motors capable of planing, estimated at roughly two million dollars to build. On electric propulsion, they credit starting without a diesel engine for making them confident sailors who can sail Uma backwards out of tight anchorages; they now prioritize regenerative charging through the propeller and would never revert to diesel. Financial security comes from YouTube revenue, no debt, and low overhead — not from conventional employment. Kika addresses the ongoing crisis in Haiti, noting her 96-year-old grandmother calls it the worst situation in her lifetime. The biggest ongoing lifestyle challenge, they say, is the cost and time of flying across the Atlantic to visit family. They also mention sailing a 59-foot Voyage catamaran, a Salona, and a Volvo 65 to stay sharp on varied boats.

More from Sailing Uma

We're Finally Setting Sail Again!Sep 20264 Hours to Rig Solar for an 8-Month Solo CircumnavigationSep 2026Solar Sponsor Backed Out Before Sailing Around the World !Sep 2026Our boat won’t look the same after this | Step 495Aug 2026

From Sailing Uma — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.