The lens focas is messed up until i zoom it in

Zoom lenses are very complex mechanisms with some lenses moving outward, while others are moving the opposite direction inside where you can't see them moving- the trip to the beach sounds like sand in part of the mechanism which isn't affected when zoomed out. Needs repair, but it's probably cheaper to buy another one as the repaiir will be higher than the price of a used one at around $75, and probably more than the price of a new one. Even if they do repair, you can never get all the sand out of the camera and lens.