The £200 millionaire

[AngusMcDoon]

What year is this story set in?

http://www.bluemoment.com/200pm.html

He talks about deaths in the war, which I guess was WW1, as some of the places he goes to would not have been possible after Europe was divided post WW2.

If it was set in, say 1920, then a quick peek at an inflation calculator shows that the figures need multiplying by about a factor of 40 to be equivalent today. That would make his boat cost about £8k, which is probably not far off today's prices for an old 26' boat, for example a Halcyon 27.

 

[Searush]

From the Bluemoment listing for the story;

The £200 Millionaire by Weston Martyr (1932)

Does that answer your question? Good read innit? In my view, the modern equivalent is Dylan Winter's KTL vids on U-tube.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

The £200 Millionaire by Weston Martyr (1932)
Does that answer your question? Good read innit?

It does and it is, thank you. Is the story about you?

 

[jhr]

Good read innit? In my view, the modern equivalent is Dylan Winter's KTL vids on U-tube.

An excellent read.

It's included as an appendix to Annie Hill's book "Voyaging on a small income" and in many ways, her philosophy is similar to that of the "millionaire", but the Dylan Winter analogy is also apt.

 

[Searush]

It does and it is, thank you. Is the story about you?

See edit to post 2. However, I am still responsible for a number of dependants so I cannot be that footloose & fancy free very often.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

See edit to post 2. However, I am still responsible for a number of dependants so I cannot be that footloose & fancy free very often.

According to...

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/historic-inflation-calculator

there appears to have been rampant deflation between 1920 that I estimated and the actual year of the story in 1932. The money difference between 1932 and today is nearly a factor of 50. So his boat cost £10k in today's money, and he started out with assets of £200k.

 

[prv]

In my view, the modern equivalent is Dylan Winter's KTL vids on U-tube.

Not really, since Dylan doesn't live on his boat, nor spend all his time voyaging without having to work.

Pete

 

[Sybarite]

Just drop off the "k".

From memory though he was talking about his annual income, not capital.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Just drop off the "k".

From memory though he was talking about his annual income, not capital.

£200 annual income and cost of his boat
£4000 his starting assets

 

[Poignard]

Just drop off the "k".

From memory though he was talking about his annual income, not capital.

You're right. I think £200 was the interest at 5% on his savings of £4,000 [not much chance of getting 5% now!].

There are websites that will convert £200 then to today's equivalent. I worked it out [last year] at roughly £8-10K. In 1932 there were no marina fees to pay of course but this might be compensated by the lower maintenance costs on a grp boat compared with a wooden one.

Nice story for day-dreamers though, but surely a sad lonely existence in reality?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Nice story for day-dreamers though, but surely a sad lonely existence in reality?

I suppose it depends on your situation. He sounded discontent with his previous life having stopped working, lost his wife and some of his children, and the others gone off on their own lives. It wouldn't suit everyone, but some people are happy like this on their own. There are plenty of singles who have replied to the 'Who's living aboard?' survey over in the other forum.

 

[Poignard]

I suppose it depends on your situation. He sounded discontent with his previous life having stopped working, lost his wife and some of his children, and the others gone off on their own lives. It wouldn't suit everyone, but some people are happy like this on their own. There are plenty of singles who have replied to the 'Who's living aboard?' survey over in the other forum.

Of course you are right, but I think if I found myself in that situation, I would enrol myself on a dating agency, or scour the contacts page of the SAGA magazine, and find myself a replacement swmbo (after a decent interval for mourning, of course!). But in those days a middle-aged or elderly widower would not have had the opportunities we now enjoy for meeting new people.

 

[BruceDanforth]

He might have been getting his leg over all round Europe for all we know.

 

[electrosys]

Nice story for day-dreamers though, but surely a sad lonely existence in reality?

There's a world of difference between travelling alone and being sad & lonely - the saddest and loneliest people I've ever known lived in the heart of London: surrounded by people. From what I remember of the story he made friends wherever he went - lock-keepers, fellow travellers and so on.

"The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready." Thoreau Walden

"He travels fastest who travels alone." Rudyard Kipling

 

[Touchwood]

He might have been getting his leg over all round Europe for all we know.

 

[tat27]

Great Story

Outstanding story, I would love to hear of someone trying it now 70 odd years later. An inspiration for me sitting on a train into London every day.

 

[BrianH]

Of course you are right, but I think if I found myself in that situation, I would enrol myself on a dating agency, or scour the contacts page of the SAGA magazine, and find myself a replacement swmbo (after a decent interval for mourning, of course!). But in those days a middle-aged or elderly widower would not have had the opportunities we now enjoy for meeting new people.

I think his lifestyle was exactly one "for meeting new people" and I would hazard that he did not have your need for a permanent companion, being happy in his independence. Indeed, his solitary situation enabled him to achieve the extreme mobility that he found so invigorating and in which he found fulfillment.

I can understand it. I too, now that I have retired, live alone on board through most of the summer and I too enjoy it and it is definitely NOT "a sad lonely existence in reality". We are not all alike, what you seek in life may not be what others seek.

 

[mcorrick]

This is an ancient thread, so this will doubtless fall into the cyber silence, but I must give three cheers and a hoorah to Barnacle for his last comment.

 

[Blueboatman]

Its a great story, the antithesis of marina hopping , gadgets, on board inconveniences, easyjet home visits, so reads like (un)popular fiction to this centurys 'typical' weekending retirees I would think...?

Sailing has gone from an adventure to a 'must do the arc circuit in a year' sort of gap year for retirees?

 

[westernman]

What year is this story set in?

http://www.bluemoment.com/200pm.html

He talks about deaths in the war, which I guess was WW1, as some of the places he goes to would not have been possible after Europe was divided post WW2.

If it was set in, say 1920, then a quick peek at an inflation calculator shows that the figures need multiplying by about a factor of 40 to be equivalent today. That would make his boat cost about £8k, which is probably not far off today's prices for an old 26' boat, for example a Halcyon 27.

According to the Bank of England, you should multiply by about 60 if it was set in 1932 (which is what is says at the top).

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/inflation/calculator/flash/default.aspx

In 1890 you could get a 55ft Pilot Cutter built and fitted out for 350 pounds.
The inflation calculator is way way off what its costs to build one today.