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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