Boston Whaler-class lifeboat

Class overview
Name	Boston Whaler class
Builders	Boston Whaler
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by	McLachlan
Succeeded by	Atlantic 21
Built	1985
In service	1985–1994
Completed	1
Retired	1
General characteristics
Length	20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Beam	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion	2 x 90 hp Evinrude diesels
Speed	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement	2–3

The Boston Whaler-class lifeboat was an A-class lifeboat, formerly operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was replaced by the Atlantic 21. ^{[1] [2]}

History

On 21 January 1985, the RNLI placed a 20-foot 6in Rigid fibreglass Boston Whaler Outrage lifeboat on service at Poole Lifeboat Station in Dorset. ^[3]

The boat had primarily been funded in Poole, from the 1981 Poole mayor's appeal, the Round Table and 'Beating the Bounds' collections. At a naming ceremony held at Poole Yacht Club on Wed 8 May 1985, Councillor P. J. Coles (former mayor) named the lifeboat Sam and Iris Coles (A-513) in memory of his parents. ^[4]

Only one lifeboat of this rigid fibreglass type was employed by the RNLI, and was the last surviving rigid Inshore Lifeboat in service, following the withdrawal of the McLachlan-class lifeboats in 1988. The lifeboat had been retained at Poole due to the shallow conditions in Poole Harbour, but whilst away for maintenance, it was realised that a B-class lifeboat was equally effective. Sam and Iris Coles was withdrawn for use at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre on 28 November 1994, and replaced with a B-class (Atlantic 21). ^[5]

Fleet

Op. No. [a]	Name	Built	In service	Station	Comments
A-513	Sam and Iris Coles	1985	1985–1994	Poole

1. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

References

1. Leach, Nicholas (30 April 2014). The Lifeboat Service in South East England. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN   9781445617572.
2. "Boston Whaler Lifeboat". Boston Whaler. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
3. "On Station" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XLIX (491): 148. Spring 1985. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
4. "Ceremonies". The Lifeboat. XLIX (493): 238. Autumn 1985. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
5. "The Last Rigid Inshore Lifeboat In RNLI Service Was the Boston Whaler A513 Sam and Iris Coles". The Lifeboat. 53 (531): 291. Spring 1995. Retrieved 26 September 2025.