Solent-class lifeboat

Class overview

Builders:	Groves & Guttridge, Cowes Camper & Nicholson, Gosport
Operators:	RNLI
Preceded by:	Watson
Succeeded by:	Tyne
Built:	1969–1973^[1]
In service:	1969–1993
Completed:	11
Retired:	11
General characteristics
Type:	motor lifeboat
Displacement:	27 tons
Length:	48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam:	14 ft (4.3 m)
Draught:	4 ft 8 in (1.42 m)
Propulsion:	2 x 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines
Speed:	9.5 knots (10.9 mph)
Range:	150 nautical miles (280 km)
Crew:	7

The Solent-class lifeboat was essentially a steel-hulled version of the 48ft 6in Oakley-class self-righting lifeboat and was sometimes referred to as the Oakley Mark III.^[2] Solent Operational Numbers followed on from the first three 48ft 6in Oakleys and were interrupted by the last two Oakleys (48-12 and 48-13). The operational numbers of the Solent-class had three digits in the suffix to indicate a metal hull (as with Clyde, Waveney, Thames, Tyne classes, one Arun class and the first eleven Merseys). Two digits indicates a wooden, GRP or FRC hull.

Description

Apart from tkhe steel hull the principal difference to the wooden hulled Oakley was the elimination of the complicated water ballast self-righting system; the Solent derived its self-righting capability from its watertight superstructure. The class was the last design of the traditional displacement-type lifeboat to come from the drawing boards of the RNLI.^[2] There were (unofficial) Mark I and Mark II versions of the class, the first eight boats having a vertical steering wheel with wheelhouse access via sliding doors at the forward end of the wheelhouse on each side, while the last three has a seated steering position with hinged wheelhouse doors at the after end of the wheelhouse. The Mark II entered service in 1972.^[2] The first four boats (ON 1007-1010) and the last three (ON 1019-1021) were built at Cowes by Groves & Guttridge. The second four (ON 1011-1014) were built at Gosport by Camper & Nicholson.

Propulsion

The Solent was powered by twin 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines which gave the boat a top speed of 9.5 knots (10.9 mph). There were twin spade rudders installed which were coupled to Mathway manual steering gear which gave this class a much better manoeuvrability than earlier classes of lifeboats.

Fleet

ON^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Op. No.^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Name	Built	In service	Principal Station	Disposal
1007	48-004	George Urie Scott	1969	1969–1978 1979–1984 1985–1989	Lochinver Rosslare Harbour Lochinver	Sold in 1990, currently in Holland
1008	48-005	James and Mariska Joicey	1969	1969–1986 1987–1988 1988–1989	Peterhead The Lizard Relief fleet	Sold in 1990, currently in Northern Ireland
1009	48-006	Jack Shayler and the Lees	1970	1970–1987 1988–1993	Bembridge Relief fleet	Sold June 1994, currently at Tallin, Estonia
1010	48-007	David and Elizabeth King and E.B.	1970	1970–1988 1988–1989	Longhope Invergordon	Sold in 1990, currently in Scotland
1011	48-008	R. Hope Roberts	1969	1969–1979 1979–1985 1985–1987 1987–1993	Rosslare Harbour Fraserburgh Galway Bay Coutmacsherry Harbour	Sold in 1993, currently in Australia
1012	48-009	City of Birmingham	1970	1970–1983 1984–1993	Exmouth Walton and Frinton	Sold to Uruguay July 1995
1013	48-010	The Royal British Legion Jubilee	1970	1970–1979 1979 1979–1986 1986–1988 1988–1989	Relief Fleet Fraserburgh Relief fleet Peterhead Relief fleet	Sold April 1990, currently in England
1014	48-011	The Three Sisters	1970	1970–1988 1988–1989	Thurso Wicklow	Sold April 1990, currently in England
1019	48-014	Lady MacRobert	1972	1972–1989 1989–1993	Montrose Relief fleet	Sold to Uruguay March 1994
1020	48-015	Hugh William Viscount Gough	1973	1973–1984 1984–1988 1988–1993	Stornoway Barra Island Dunbar	Sold September 1993
1021	48-016	Douglas Currie	1973	1973–1974 1974–1975 1975–1984 1985 1986–1989 1990–1992	Relief fleet Kirkwall Macduff Fraserburgh Portpatrick Workington	Sold in 1992, currently in Scotland

↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References

↑ Lifeboat – In Danger’s Hour. Author: Howarth, Patrick. Publisher:Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd, Third Impression 1982. Work= The RNLI, Facts and Figures, page 140. ISBN 0 600 34959 4
1 2 3 Rescue at Sea – An International History of Lifesaving, Coastal Rescue Craft and Organisations. Author: Evans, Clayton. Publisher: Conway Maritime Press – Chrysalis Books Plc. 2003. Work= Part II, Chapter 19 – To Right or Not to Right? Page 161. ISBN 0 85177 934 4

Classes of Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

Operational fleet

All-weather lifeboats	Mersey Severn Shannon Tamar Trent Tyne

Inshore lifeboats	B-class: Atlantic 75 Atlantic 85 D-class: IB1 E-class: Mark I Mark II H-class (hovercraft)

Small inflatables	Arancia X-class XP-class Y-class

Historic lifeboats

Pulling and sailing lifeboats

All-weather motor lifeboats

Up to 10 knots	35ft 6in Self-righting Barnett Liverpool Norfolk and Suffolk Oakley Ramsgate Rother Solent Surf Watson

Above 10 knots	Arun Brede Clyde Thames Waveney

Inshore lifeboats

A-class: Hatch
McLachlan
Boston Whaler
B-class: Atlantic 21
C-class: Zodiac IV
D-class: RFD PB16
Avon S650
Zodiac III
EA16

Experimental lifeboats

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

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