RNLI lifeboats

Since its inception, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has provided lifeboats to lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland.

Once past their operation life, the boats have mostly been sold by the RNLI and purchased for domestic use, marine businesses for usage such as further sea lifesaving functions, diving, fishing and pleasure trips or to martime lifesaving institutions from other countries to continue a lifesaving role. Some lifeboats of particular historic note have been preserved in museums.

Historic Lifeboat Owners Association

The Historic Lifeboat Owners Association has been set up for individuals who own, maintain, crew or have a general interest in historic Lifeboats, the association is a community whereby people can share knowledge, experience, information and advise on the subject, organizes social events and historic Lifeboat rallys.

At the beginning of each Summer an ex Lifeboat rally is held at Fowey in Cornwall whereby owners bring their boats and display them to the public, this event is organized by Fowey RNLI which is a good opportunity to raise funds for the RNLI. Rallys have also been held in Falmouth, Belfast, Glasgow, Poole and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

History of lifeboats

File:Girvan Harbour, Ayrshire.JPG

Girvan harbour and lifeboat

The Royal Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) was founded in March 1824. The RNIPLS provided lifeboats to local committees, the Coastguard and harbour authorities. The Duke of Northumberland financed a competition for a standard design of a lifeboat. The winner was William Plenty, of Newbury, Berkshire. These "pulling boats" (rowing) were between 18 and 26 feet in length and were powered by between 4 and 10 oars. They had cork in their hull and shaped air-cases fore and aft.. Their double-ended designs could operate a rudder from either end, so there was no need to turn.

The RNIPLS suffered from lack of funds and poor organization. Following the loss of the RNIPLS lifeboat Providence and 20 of her crew of 24 in the mouth of the river Tyne in December 1849, the need for reorganisation was recognised. Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland, then First Lord of the Admiralty, took control. Richard Lewis was appointed secretary. The RNIPLS was replaced by the RNLI. Plenty's design was retired and a new design was introduced. These were larger, self-righting boats. They had a narrow beam, were 34 or 35 feet long with higher end-boxes containing the air-cases and were tested to self-right when capsized.

Later lifeboats were increased in length and were optionally powered by sail. Motors were introduced in the early 1900s. They had a greater range, facilitating the merging of lifeboat stations. Innovation in the design of lifeboats is continuous.

In 1962 the need for inshore lifeboats (ILB) was recognised. A French design was adopted, this was an inflatable of 16 foot length and a 40 hp engine with a speed of 20 knots. It was faster than conventional lifeboats, at that time, could traverse shallow waters, go alongside persons in the water without harming them, and the running costs were much less than conventional lifeboats.

Lifeboat classes

Many lifeboat designs were named after their designers or the area of the UK they came from. More recently they have been named after rivers of the UK each class has several designs and lengths and their means of power ranges from early rowing, sailing, steam, petrol and now diesel.

• Arancia
• Arun class (52 and 54 feet versions)
• B Class Atlantic 21 Lifeboat
• B Class Atlantic 75 Lifeboat
• B Class Atlantic 85 Lifeboat
• Barnett
• Brede
• Clyde class
  • Only two stations used 70-foot Clyde Class boats: Kirkwall in Scotland (Grace Paterson Ritchie (70-002)) and Clovelly, Devon (Charles H Barret (70-001))
• C Class
• Cromer class
• D Class (original)
• D Class (IB1)
• E Class
• Greathead class - designed by Henry Greathead
  • Greathead’s vessel was 30 feet long and designed to be rowed by a crew of 12.It was double-ended and featured ample amounts of cork lining. However, it also had a heavy keel for stability, as well as a long steering oar, and could be rowed in either direction. Greathead’s lifeboat eventually came to be used in 10 different countries, and at least one British boat remained in service for 40 years.
• Harbour
• Hovercraft 470TD
• Keith Nelson
• Liverpool class
  • Used by the RNLI from the 1930's up to the 1980's. Two types appeared: single screw boat and twin screw boat introduced in 1945 as a more powerful version of the single screwed lifeboats.
• Medina
  • Only a prototype of a semi rigid. Powered by twin 350hp Caterpillar engines the Medina was capable of 28 knots using "jet" drives delivering a tonne of water per second to the nozzles at the rear of the boat.
• Mersey class lifeboat - introduced 1988
• North Country
  • Based on Greatheads' design
• Norfolk and Suffolk class
  • Alfred Corry built Gt Yarmouth 1893. 44 ft Two-masted with oars, non-self righting. . The James Stephen No.14 was fitted with a engine
• Oakley class
• Ramsgate
• Rother
• Solent class
• Surf
• Self-Righter
• Severn class
• Steam
• Tamar class (The latest design of advanced all weather lifeboat, replacing the Tyne class)
• Thames class
• Trent class lifeboat
• Tubular
• Tyne class (Slowly being phased out of service)
• Watson class
• Waveney class
• Whale Boat
• X Class
• XP Class
• Y Class

See also

• Cromer Lifeboat Louisa Heartwell ON 495 - a Liverpool class boat
• Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey ON 670
• Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey ON 694
• H F Bailey III , Cromer Lifeboat
• Cromer Lifeboat Henry Blogg ON 840 - Watson cabin motor type
• Guide of Dunkirk
• Longhope Lifeboat Thomas McCunn ON 759
• RNLB Mary Stanford (ON733) of Ballycotton, awarded the gold medal.
• RNLB Mary Stanford (ON661) capsized in Rye Harbour
• New Brighton Lifeboat William and Kate Johnstone - a Barnett class boat
• Zetland Lifeboat

External links

• Historic Lifeboat Owners Association
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution
• RNLI Littlehampton Lifeboat Station