rbcoomer
Well-Known Member
I picked up a s/h copy of "Family Sports Boating" by Norman Fletcher and JD Ladd (1972) in the week and had a bit of a read yesterday whilst between chores...
I just had to share the following extract from a paragraph entitled "What does it cost?" - which amused me somewhat...
What I find most curious is the disparity between capital costs like that of the boat and even replacement prop versus fuel, servicing, insurance etc. Obviously most 'goods' costs have fallen relative to labour/taxes etc, but it's only when you look back sometimes that you realise by just how much!
You can still buy a 14' rig for £600 - perhaps not a very good one, but certainly for 2x or 4x that cost will get you something viable. Fuel cost is probably more like £100+ for a week-end (40x), service £150? (15x), insurance £150? (6x). I'm not sure about props as there are many repair techniques now that probably have an influence as will internet, eBay etc so I guess increases somewhere between that of s/h boat and servicing - 8x to 10x?. Likewise club subscriptions - I've not found any local to me other than sailing and rowing clubs, but Torbay Yacht Club would be around be around 12x that quoted above for 1972.
For me, the insurance was the big surprise - probably due to bigger market, better/cheaper materials etc.
Food for thought anyway...
I just had to share the following extract from a paragraph entitled "What does it cost?" - which amused me somewhat...
What I find most curious is the disparity between capital costs like that of the boat and even replacement prop versus fuel, servicing, insurance etc. Obviously most 'goods' costs have fallen relative to labour/taxes etc, but it's only when you look back sometimes that you realise by just how much!
You can still buy a 14' rig for £600 - perhaps not a very good one, but certainly for 2x or 4x that cost will get you something viable. Fuel cost is probably more like £100+ for a week-end (40x), service £150? (15x), insurance £150? (6x). I'm not sure about props as there are many repair techniques now that probably have an influence as will internet, eBay etc so I guess increases somewhere between that of s/h boat and servicing - 8x to 10x?. Likewise club subscriptions - I've not found any local to me other than sailing and rowing clubs, but Torbay Yacht Club would be around be around 12x that quoted above for 1972.
For me, the insurance was the big surprise - probably due to bigger market, better/cheaper materials etc.
Food for thought anyway...
