Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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

Once past their operational 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 maritime lifesaving institutions from other countries to continue a lifesaving role. Some lifeboats of particular historic note have been preserved in museums.

History

The Royal National 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 and introduced as the D Class. 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. In 1972 a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was developed at Atlantic College in South Wales and introduced as the B Class Atlantic 21.

Current lifeboats

The RNLI operated 431 lifeboats in 2022. Class In service 11 41 40 27 33 IRB 3 ILB 122 ILB 143 ILB 4 hovercraft 7 A number of other craft are also in operation including personal watercraft, boarding boats and tenders.

The are undergoing life extension and the are being replaced by newly-built s.

List of lifeboat classes Pulling and sailing lifeboats The first lifeboats were powered by oars and most, except a few very early ones, had sails. A few were rebuilt with petrol engines after 1904.

ClassBuild periodTotal builtTypical lengthSelf-rightingNotes 1851 Yes Winner of the RNLI's design competition in 1851, the design was quickly developed into the . 3 No Designed for the Norfolk Shipwreck Association at Cromer before they became part of the RNLI in 1857. Also used at several other nearby stations and the RNLI built three replacements for them to a similar design. 1790–1804 23 No The first widely-adopted lifeboats were based on Henry Greathead's Original design. They were double-ended and fitted with cork buoyancy aids. At least one remained in service for 40 years to be withdrawn by the RNLI. They are sometimes referred to as the 'North Country lifeboat'. Liverpool 1892–1916 40 No 1860–1918 44 No A sailing lifeboat designed to operate further from shore and around the sandbanks common off East Anglia. It was broader than the self-righting types which made it less likely to capsize. 1825–1850 29 No A small lifeboat based on a whaleboat. 1851–1916 500+ Yes A lighter boat developed from the design in 1851. This was the standard RNLI boat for most of the second half of the nineteenth century and evolved over time. Being so widely used they were often referred to simply as 'self-righters'. No One of the institution's first standard designs. Richardson 1856–1896 7 No A tubular design with a slatted floor suspended between two tubes that were joined together at either end. They saw service at and . 1900–1918 17 Yes A variation of the self-righting design. 1892–1915 42 38 to 45 ft No 1869–1910 5 Yes A small boat built for and .

Early powered lifeboats The RNLI launched its first steam-powered lifeboat in 1889, but by 1905 was experimenting with petrol-engined boats. The first ones were based on pulling and sailing designs and had a single engine but retained sails. Boats with two engines started to appear in 1923 and diesel-engined boats in 1939. Class prefixEntered serviceTotal builtLengthDisplacement (tons)Speed (knots)Range ()–1923379.5300701965378 to 8511.51,700DoverThe Dover lifeboat was a special design to attend aircraft crashes in the English Channel.–193012717.2594 The Harbour lifeboat was a special design for .–19381 Liverpool-class pulling and sailing lifeboats continued to be built until 1916. 28 single-engine Liverpools were built between 1931 and 1941 and 32 with two engines between 1932 and 1954.–1931606 to 87.5 Norfolk and Suffolk-class pulling and sailing lifeboats continued to be built until 1918. The construction of single-engined boats then started but completion was delayed by the First World War.–1921314 to 17811537195831 Three Oakley-class lifeboats were long and given Operational Numbers 48-01 to 48-03. These larger boats displaced 30 tons.128140 The first Ramsgate-class was built with a single engine but the others had two.–1925321 to 23837197211138140Self-rightingThe Self-righting motor lifeboats were the final development of the introduced in 1851. 43 single engine examples were built between 1908 and 1940, followed by 5 with two engines between 1947 and 1951.–1908485+848196911279.5240Steam (hydro jet)–1889331Steam (screw propeller)–18983Steam tug–1901113310–193694+6.5+40501973224+17.5210–1909213Up to 238280

Fast and all-weather lifeboats The advent of lifeboats with a new hull shape in the 1960s allowed them to exceed . They eventually became designated as 'all-weather lifeboats' to differentiate them from the inshore lifeboats that were unable to operate in some storm conditions. The first, the , were adapted from an American design.

Class prefixEntered serviceTotal builtLengthDisplacement (tonnes)Speed (knots)Range ()CrewSurvivor capacityLaunch method52Some Arun-class lifeboats were 54 feet long so carried Operational Numbers prefixed 54.19714618.52506Afloat331981102014048Afloat4019681Afloat–19813The Medina-class lifeboats were Rigid Inflatable Boat prototypes. The Dutch lifeboat service continued their development and put lifeboats of this design into service.284121988381417140643Carriage, slipway or afloat1719964642252507124Afloat13201347+ Shannon-class lifeboats are still being constructed. 47 had been completed by 2023.1825250679Carriage, slipway or afloat1620052732252507118Slipway or afloat141994382825250673Afloat4719824024.418240620Slipway or afloat44196422152055Afloat

Inshore lifeboats Lifeboats designed for fast response to incidents close to shore. While there have been many designs since the first inshore rescue boats were introduced in 1963, they are divided into five classes: A - rigid-hulled boats B - rigid inflatable boats C - large inflatable boats D - small inflatable boats E - special design for the River Thames

ClassModelEntered serviceTotal builtLengthDisplacementSpeed (knots)Endurance (hours)CrewSurvivor capacityLaunch methodA19851302–3AfloatA196752552–3AfloatA196710222–3AfloatCZodiac IV197030264B 197096303322CarriageB 199397343323CarriageB 2005140+ B-class Atlantic 85s are still being constructed. 140 had been completed by 2023.3533-420Carriage, davit or floating boathouseDAvon S6501971420310DDunlop1965112-3DEA1619872572033–4Carriage or davitDHumber198122-3DIB12001284+ D-class IB1s are still being constructed. 284 had been completed by 2023.2532-35Carriage or davitDRFD 320196662-3Used as Boarding BoatsDRFD PB1619632282–3Carriage or davitDZodiac III1971642–3Carriage or davitMark 120026403420AfloatMark 220123403420Afloat Mark 320191453420Afloat

Other rescue craft ClassTypeEntered serviceTotal builtLengthWeight / DisplacementSpeed (knots)Endurance (hours)CrewNotesInflatable rescue boat200178+165 kg8225 used by on lifeguard units, 3 deployed at lifeboat stations.BBBoarding boatThe Boarding Boats are a variety of different types mostly used where lifeboats are moored afloat. Modern examples are inflatable boats but retired inshore lifeboats may also be used. Hovercraft200273.86 tonnes3032-4RWCRescue water craft20011Fast craft used by lifeguard units.XInflatable rescue boatUnmotored boat normally carried on board Tyne-class lifeboats but is an option on the and .Inflatable rescue boat 61 kg 10 or 25 2 2A small powered boat which is normally carried on board the Trent-class lifeboats.Inflatable rescue boat 25 2Small powered boat normally found on board and lifeboats.

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 rallies.

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 and is an opportunity to raise funds for the RNLI. Rallies have also been held in Falmouth, Belfast, Glasgow, Poole and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

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Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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