Ramsgate-class lifeboat

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Class overview
Name: Ramsgate-class
Builders:
Operators: Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg RNLI
Preceded by: Norfolk and Suffolk-class
Succeeded by: 46ft 9in Watson-class
Cost: £8,500
Built: 1925–1928
In service: 1925–1955
Completed: 3
Retired: 3
General characteristics
Displacement: 21–23 tons
Length:
  • ON 697: 48 ft (15 m)
  • ON 704/5: 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam: 13 ft (4.0 m)
Propulsion:
  • ON 697: 1 x 80 bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol
  • ON 704/5: 2 x 40 bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol
Speed: 8 knots (9.2 mph)
Crew: 9

The Ramsgate-class motor lifeboat was a special design produced by the RNLI for three stations covering the Thames estuary and required to operate in shallow waters.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution Maritime rescue organisation in the UK, Ireland, Channel Island and Isle of Man

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. There are numerous other lifeboat services operating in the same area.

Contents

History

Designed at a time when the RNLI was happy to build special boats for the particular needs of individual stations, the Ramsgate-class (named after the first station to operate one) was essentially an amalgam of Norfolk and Suffolk and Watson design principles intended for the shallow waters of the Thames estuary. The first boat, RNLB Prudential (ON 697), was 48 feet long and single engined. The other two were 6 inches longer and twin engined. All three had long careers at their respective stations but when they were replaced between 1953 and 1955, it was with standard 46ft 9in Watson boats.

Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboat

Norfolk and Suffolk-class lifeboats were lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. They were able to operate further from shore and around the sandbanks common off East Anglia.

Watson-class lifeboat

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.

46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat

The 46 ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1947 and 1956 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1947 and 1989.

Description

The first Ramsgate was an open design with no cockpits and low end boxes. Powered by a single 80 bhp Weyburn built DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine driving a single screw, the boat retained an auxiliary sailing rig as well as six oars. The other two boats were substantially redesigned, being six inches longer and powered by two 40 bhp Weyburn built CE4 4-cylinder petrol engines driving twin screws. The sailing rig was much reduced and the boats had a shelter ahead of the cockpit covering the engine controls. Just ahead of this was a funnel for engine exhaust.

Fleet

ON [lower-alpha 1] NameBuiltBuilderIn serviceStationsComments
697Prudential1925 S. E. Saunders, Cowes 1925–1953 Ramsgate Sold November 1953
704Greater London (Civil Service No.3)1928 J. Samuel White, Cowes1928–1941
1941–1945
1945–1955
1955–1957
Southend on Sea
Relief fleet
Southend on Sea
Relief fleet
Sold September 1957
705E.M.E.D.1928J. Samuel White, Cowes1928–1953
1953–1955
Walton and Frinton
Relief fleet
Sold January 1956
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

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