45ft Watson-class lifeboat

Class overview
Name: 45ft Watson-class
Builders: S.E. Saunders, Cowes
J. Samuel White, Cowes
Operators: RNLI
Preceded by: various
Succeeded by: 45ft 6in Watson-class
Cost: £6,000-£8,500
Built: (1912), 1919-1925
In service: 1912-1956
Completed: 22
Lost: 1
Retired: 21
General characteristics
Class and type:45ft Watson-class motor lifeboat
Length:45 ft (14 m)
Beam:12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion:1x60bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl petrol
1x80bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl petrol
Speed:8 knots
Range:125 nm
Crew:8-12

The 45 ft Watson-class was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1919 and 1925 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1919 and 1956.

History

In 1898 the first 45 ft Watson was built, one of the largest pulling and sailing lifeboats built for the RNLI. Only three of these 45 footers were built, the last in 1901. This third boat, Abert Edward ON 463, was based at Clacton-on-Sea and after eleven years service was taken in hand for rebuilding with a motor. A 40 bhp Tylor C 4-cylinder petrol engine was fitted but little else was changed and, like all single engine lifeboats, a full sailing rig and drop keel was retained. The boat returned to service at Clacton in 1912 and served there until 1929. With the conversion of ON 463 deemed a success, plans were put in hand for the production of a series of 45 ft Watson motors, but due to the First World War, the first boat did not appear until 1919.

Description

Like ON 463 the first eleven production boats were open decked and retained full sail plans and a drop keel. The first seven boats were powered by a 60 bhp Tylor D1 6-cylinder petrol engine, while the rest had an RNLI designed 80 bhp DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine, nine of which were built by Weyburn Engineering and five by J. Samuel White. Experience showed that the open deck layout was inadequate for the longer services operated by the motor lifeboats and from the late Twenties a shelter was added ahead of the steering position. The final ten boats, built from 1923(ON 684), were to a revised design with a cabin capable of taking twenty survivors ahead of the engine room.

Fleet

ON is the RNLIs sequential Official Number.

ON Name Built Builder In service Stations Comments
463 Albert Edward 1901
(m.1912)
Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 1901–1929
1929–1932
Clacton-on-Sea
Arranmore
Sold October 1932
648 Elsie 1919 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1919–1930
1930–1946
1946–1951
St Mary's
Helvick Head
Relief fleet
Sold January 1951
649 Duke of Connaught/
1920-Shamrock
1919 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1919–1950
1950–1952
Baltimore
Relief fleet
Sold February 1952
653 William Evans 1921 Summers & Payne, Southampton/
S.E. Saunders, Cowes
1921–1925
1927–1927
1927–1939
Wexford
Rosslare Harbour
Galway Bay
Sold November 1940
654 Joseph Adlam 1921 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1921–1948
1948–1951
Blyth
Relief fleet
Sold February 1952
658 Dunleary (Civil Service No.7) 1919 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1919–1938
1939–1951
Dun Laoghaire
Lytham St Annes
Sold May 1951
659 Frederick and Emma 1921 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1921–1938
1939–1950
Wick
Amble
Sold August 1950
668 Duke of Connaught 1921 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1921–1939
1939–1951
Peterhead No.1
Relief fleet
Sold October 1951
671 The Brothers 1922 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1922–1931
1931–1934
1934–1937
1937–1938
1938–1948
1948–1952
Penlee
Falmouth
Relief fleet
Selsey
Relief fleet
Workington
Sold August 1952
678 Edward, Prince of Wales 1924 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1924–1947 Mumbles Capsized on service 23/4/1947, eight crew lost. Boat later burned.
679 Elizabeth Newton 1923 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1924–1939
1939–1953
Hartlepool
Relief fleet
Sold May 1953
680 City of Bradford/
1929-
City of Bradford I
1923 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1923–1929
1929–1930
1930–1932
1932–1952
Humber
Relief fleet
Humber No.2
Relief fleet
Sold October 1952
684 John R. Webb/
1931-
684RM/
1934-
Hearts of Oak
1923 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1923–1930
1931–1932
1934–1936
1937–1938
1938–1955
Tenby
Barra Island
Yarmouth
Yarmouth
Relief fleet
Sold February 1955
685 J.W. Archer 1924 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1924–1950
1950–1954
1954–1956
Teesmouth
Amble
Relief fleet
Sold July 1956
686 T.B.B.H. 1924 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1924–1949
1949–1953
Portrush
Relief fleet
Sold January 1953
687 B.A.S.P. 1924 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1924–1934
1934–1940
1940–1947
1947–1951
1951–1955
Yarmouth
Falmouth
Relief fleet
Valentia
Relief fleet
Sold February 1955
688 The Lord Southborough
(Civil Service No.1)
1924 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1925–1951
1951–1955
Margate
Relief fleet
Sold January 1955
689 Manchester and Salford 1924 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1924–1946
1946–1954
Douglas
Relief fleet
Sold October 1954
690 C. and S. 1925 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1925–1940
1940–1943
1943–1946
1946–1947
Dunmore East
Pwllheli
Relief fleet
Valentia
Sold November 1947
692 Milburn 1925 S.E. Saunders, Cowes 1925–1946
1946–1955
Holy Island
Relief fleet
Sold September 1955
694 H.F. Bailey/
1936-
J.B. Proudfoot
1924 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1924–1928
1929–1935
1935–1941
1941–1945
1945–1947
1947–1949
1949–1956
Cromer No.1
Cromer No.1
Relief fleet
Southend-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Dover
Relief fleet
Sold September 1956
695 M.O.Y.E. 1925 J. Samuel White, Cowes 1926–1949
1949–1956
Porthdinllaen
Relief fleet
Sold April 1956

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