Watson-class lifeboat

45ft 6in Watson RNLB Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) (ON 688)
Class overview
Builders: Various
Operators: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Built: 1888–1963
In service: 1888–1991
Completed: 213

The term Watson-class lifeboat refers to several wooden lifeboat classes operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1888 and 1991. The boats had hulls that conformed to the basic design laid down by RNLI naval architect George Lennox Watson.

History

During the late Victorian period, the vast majority of lifeboats in service with the RNLI were of the self-righting type. The disadvantage of the self-righters was their lack of stability and to meet the requirements of stations which preferred the stability of a non self-righting type G.L. Watson conceived the hull type that bore his name. The first Watson, RNLB Edith and Annie (ON 208), was built in 1888 and was 42ft 3in long. Over the next 27 years, 42 Watson-class pulling and sailing types were built at a variety of lengths, the commonest being the 38 footer.

In 1904 the RNLI began experimenting with motor lifeboats when a 38ft Self-righter was converted. In 1906 three other lifeboats were converted to motor but none of these was a Watson. However, when in 1908 the first new build motor lifeboats were constructed, two of them were Watson types. Over the next 55 years, 171 boats of the various Watson-classes were built. There was, of course, no connection between a 1908 40ft Watson and a 1963 47ft Watson other than a similarity in basic hull form.

There were 11 lengths of boat in 8 separate classes:

Length Build range No. built
38ft
40ft
40ft 6in
43ft
1908–1930 15
45ft 1912–1925 22
45ft 6in 1926–1935 23
41ft 1933–1952 13
46ft 1936–1946 28
46ft 9in 1947–1956 28
42ft 1954–1962 10
47ft 1955–1963 18

Fleet

38-43ft Watson-class

The first Watson motor lifeboats were based on the most common pulling and sailing hulls, the 38ft, 40ft and 43ft types. Apart from the addition of an engine and propeller, there was little to distinguish them from their sail and oar powered predecessors. The engines in the early motor types were regarded almost as an auxiliary and the boats, which had an open deck with end boxes, retained sails and oars. Engines from Tylor, Blake and Wolseley were used, although the Tylor was the most satisfactory and the two Blake engined boats were re-engined with Tylors in 1914. Power output of the Tylors was 40bhp which gave a speed of around seven knots.

ON[lower-alpha 1] Name Built Builder Length Beam In service Stations Comments
560 Maria 1908 Thames Iron Works, Balckwall 40ft 11ft 1910–1921
1922–1929
1930–1931
1931
Broughty Ferry
Portpatrick
Pwllheli
Shoreham Harbour
Sold in 1932
565 John Ryburn 1908 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 43ft 12ft 6in 1909–1915
1915–1920
1921–1935
Stronsay
Peterhead No.2
Broughty Ferry
Sold February 1935
595 William and Laura 1910 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 43ft 12ft 6in 1910–1932
1932–1935
Donaghadee
Arranmore
Sold in 1935
602 Elliot Galer 1910 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 38ft 10ft 1911–1936 Seaham Harbour Sold in 1936
603 Helen Smitton 1910 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 38ft 10ft 1911–1936 St Abbs Sold in 1936
620 William MacPherson 1912 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 43ft 12ft 6in 1912–1929
1930
1931–1940
Campbeltown
Aldeburgh No.2
Pwllheli
Sold September 1940
621 Frederick Kitchen 1913 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 43ft 12ft 6in 1914–1945
1945–1948
Beaumaris
Reserve fleet
Sold in 1948
622 Alexander Tulloch 1912 Thames Iron Works, Blackwall 43ft 12ft 6in 1912–1914 Peterhead No.2 Wrecked on service 26/12/1914, three crew lost
651 Samuel Oakes 1918 Summers & Payne, Southampton/
S.E. Saunders, Cowes
40ft 11ft 1919–1923
1924–1929
1929–1933
Humber
Weymouth
Shoreham Harbour
Sold January 1933
677 Prince David 1922 J. Samuel White, Cowes 40ft 11ft 1922–1937 Barry Dock Sold December 1937
691 K.B.M. 1922 J. Samuel White, Cowes 40ft 11ft 1922–1949
1949–1952
Buckie
Reserve fleet
Sold September 1952
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

45ft Watson-class

The first standard class of Watson motor, began with the conversion of a pulling and sailing boat in 1912. Production began in 1919 and 22 boats were built between then and 1925.

45ft 6in Watson-class

The 45ft 6in Watson marked the transition from single engine to twin engine layout. The first two boats were single engined, but the rest were twins. Produced between 1926 and 1935, 23 were built.

40ft 6in Watson-class

This small series of single engine boats built in 1929-30 was the precursor of the twin engine 41ft type of 1933, which had a hull of the same 11ft 8in beam but six inches longer. The boats resembled scaled down versions of the contemporary 45ft 6in type, with a small shelter ahead of the aft cockpit with the exhaust funnel in front of it. All were built by J. Samuel White at Cowes and were powered by a 50bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cylinder petrol engine driving a single screw. They served until the mid 1950s when they were replaced at their respective stations by new 42ft Watson class boats.

ON[lower-alpha 1] Name Built In Service Stations Comments
721 Lady Kylsant 1929 1929–1930
1930–1937
1937–1956
Weymouth
Howth
Wicklow
Sold in 1956
722 J. and W. 1929 1929–1937
1937–1940
1940–1957
Portpatrick
Reserve fleet
Berwick
Sold May 1957
723 Sir David Richmond of Glasgow 1929 1929–1955 Troon Sold June 1956
724 G.W. 1930 1930–1956 Moelfre Sold May 1956
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

41ft Watson-class

The first twin engined medium-sized Watson class intended for stations unable to accommodate the larger types. Thirteen were built, nine between 1933 and 1939 and a further four between 1948 and 1952.

46ft Watson-class

The next development of the large Watson saw the introduction of diesel engines. Four of the first five were petrol engined, the fourth was the first new build diesel engined lifeboat for the RNLI and the remainder followed suit. Twenty eight boats were built, not including two destroyed whilst under construction in an air raid on Groves & Guttridge's yard at Cowes. Production ran from 1936 to 1946.

46ft 9in Watson-class

The first post-war Watson type, the first five resembled the 46ft type, but from 1948 a major redesign resulted in a new superstructure with midships steering and a large cabin aft. Twenty eight were built between 1947 and 1956.

42ft Watson-class

Like the 41ft type intended for stations unable to accommodate larger types but needing something bigger than a carriage launched type, the 42ft Watson introduced the use of commercial diesel engines rather than the RNLI's own designs. Ten were built between 1954 and 1962

47ft Watson-class

The final incarnation of the Watson inspired hull, the 47ft Watson was the last non self-righting class built for the RNLI other than the 70ft Clyde-class cruising boats. They were the first type to have an enclosed wheelhouse (other than the unique "fast" lifeboat of 1929). The first was built in 1955, but full production began in 1957 and continued to 1963 with eighteen built.

References

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