Liverpool-class P&S lifeboat

The early Liverpool-class lifeboats used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) were 'Pulling and Sailing' types (P&S) (i.e. powered by oars and sails) and should not be confused with the later one or two engined Liverpool-class motorised lifeboats.

RNLB J C Madge (ON 536) Liverpool P & S Class
Class overview
BuildersS. E. Saunders and Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company
OperatorsRoyal National Lifeboat Institution
General characteristics
TypePulling and sailing lifeboats
Length35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) to 41 ft 11 in (12.78 m)
PropulsionOars and Sails

Description

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The Liverpool-class 'Pulling and Sailing' lifeboats were of a non-self righting type of lifeboat of various dimensions and various numbers of oars used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Typically they were launched from carriages into the sea.

The development of the Liverpool-class motorised lifeboats enabled longer range of operation and smaller crews (i.e. no need for oarsmen).

Fleet

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ON[a] Name Built Builder Description In Service[1] Station Notes[1]
377 Unnamed,
Coard William Squarey
1892 Chas. Howson & Co, Liverpool 34 ft 3 in (10.44 m) long 1892–1906 Hoylake
380 H. G. Powell 1895 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1892–1915
1916–1947
Point of Air
On Display at Colwyn Bay
381 John and Henrietta 1895 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1896–1919 Formby
383 Admiral Briggs 1895 Rutherford & Co, Birkenhead 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1895–1914 Hilbre Island
413 James Stevens No.2,
Reserve No.9A
1898 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) long 1898–1912
1912–1914
1914–1924
Campbeltown
Relief fleet
Hilbre Island
419 Unnamed 1870 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m) long 1870–1894
1896–1898
Point of Air
Point of Air No.2
425 James Stevens No. 8,
Reserve No.9B
1899 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1899–1913
1913–1916
1916–1920
Ardrossan
Wells-next-the-Sea
Relief fleet
441 Isabella 1900 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1900–1932 Buckhaven
443 William Arthur Millward 1900 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1901–1931 Dunbar
451 James Stevens No. 17 1900 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) long 1900–1922 Porthoustock
452 James Stevens No. 18 1901 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1901–1931 Girvan
458 Constance Melanie 1901 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1901–1934 Coverack Lost at Brancaster in 1966
460 John Groome,
Reserve No.9C
1901 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1901–1914
1914–1916
1916–1923
1923–1925
Killough (Rossglass)
Relief fleet
Point of Air
Stored
461 Chapman,
Reserve No.9B
1901 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1901–1920
1920–1924
1924–1938
Groomsport
Relief fleet
Hilbre Island
December 2023, Restored, On display at the Old Lifeboat House, Lytham
477 George Leicester 1901 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1901–1927 Minehead
493 William Maynard 1902 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1903–1930 Skerries
494 Hopwood,
Reserve No.9F
1902 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1902–1924
1924–1927
1927–1930
Portrush
Relief fleet
Minehead
Yacht on Thames, last seen 1977
495 Louisa Heartwell 1902 Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long and 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) wide, fitted to 14 oars double-banked, and fitted with two water ballast tanks and two sliding or drop-keels[2] 1902–1923
1923–1931
Cromer
Cromer No.2
December 2023, Under restoration at Chatham Historic Dockyard
498 Philip Beach 1902 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1902–1930 Burnham-on-Sea Last seen at Liverpool, 1957
511 Olive 1903 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) long 1903–1921 Eastbourne Believed broken up after WWII
514 Alexandra 1903 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1903–1930
1931–1934
Hope Cove
Cromer No.2
December 2023, Holiday Home, Isle of Seil
516 Charles Deere James,
Reserve No.9
1903 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1904–1909
1909–1913
1913–1919
1919–1924
1924–1925
1925–1927
St Agnes
Relief fleet
Humber
Relief fleet
Winterton No.2
Relief fleet
Destroyed in Cherbourg Harbour, 1950
524 William and Emma 1904 Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co. 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long and 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) wide, fitted to 12 oars double-banked, and fitted with two water ballast tanks and two sliding or drop-keels[3] 1904–1916 Salcombe Capsized and wrecked on service, 27 October 1916.
526 Charles Burton,
Reserve No.9C
1904 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long 1904–1909
1909–1913
1913–1919
Grimsby
Relief fleet
Caister
Broken up, Peel, IOM
536 J C Madge 1904 Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co. 41 ft 0 in (12.50 m) long and 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) wide, fitted to 16 oars double-banked, and provided with two sliding or drop-keels and two water-ballast tanks[4] 1904–1936 Sheringham December 2023, On display at "The Mo", Sheringham
542 John Rowson Lingard,
Reserve No.9D
1905 Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co. 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) long 1905–1920
1921–1930
1930–1937
Mablethorpe
Relief fleet
Blackpool
December 2023, Stored for restoration, River Yonne, Migennes, France
545 Edward Z Dresden 1905 Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co. 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long and 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) wide, fitted to 14 oars double-banked, and provided with two drop-keels[5] 1905–1929 Aldeburgh No.2 Last reported at Ardrishaig, Argyll & Bute, 1974
553 John 1906 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1906–1931
1932–1937
Cloughey
Newcastle
554 Samuel Lewis 1906 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1906–1932 Skegness Last reported, Arbroath 1970s
555 Hannah Fawsett Bennett 1906 Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co. 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long 1906–1931
1931–1936
Hoylake
Relief fleet
Last reported, South Benfleet, 1937
569 Sarah Kay 1906 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long 1907–1943 Skateraw Last reported at Skegness, 1966
578 William Cantrell Ashley 1907 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1907–1948 New Quay December 2023, in storage at the National Collections Centre, Nantgarw for restoration
586 Caroline 1908 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long 1908–1935 Blakeney Last reported Barrow-on-Soar, 1960
587 James Scarlett 1908 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) long 1908–1925
1925–1928
St Annes
Demonstration
Last reported at Kings Lynn, 1969
598 Brother and Sister 1909 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) long 1909–1932 Llanddulas
604 Janet Hoyle 1909 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1910–1932 Ayr Broken up at Brightlingsea, 2016
626 Arthur Lionel 1912 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1912–1929
1930–1939
St Peter Port
Minehead
Last reported at Fishguard, 1973
636 James and John Young 1913 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) long 1913–1930
1930–1939
Ardrossan
Relief fleet
December 2023, upturned hull on display at the People's Palace, Glasgow.
661 Mary Stanford 1916 S. E. Saunders, East Cowes 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m) long and 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) wide, fitted to 14 oars double-banked, and fitted with two water ballast tanks and two drop-keels[6] 1916–1928 Rye Harbour (Winchelsea) Damaged on service at Rye Harbour in 1928, broken up 1929
665 Baltic 1916 S. E. Saunders, East Cowes 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m) long and 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) wide, weighing 4 tons 11cwt. 1qr.fitted to 14 oars, and fitted with 12 relieving tubes, ordinary keel, 2 drop keels, and 2 water ballast tanks[7] 1916–1936
1936–1940
1940–1943
Wells-next-the-Sea
Aldeburgh No.2
Relief fleet
Broken up at Southampton, 2006
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

References

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  1. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ^ "NEW LIFE-BOAT FOR CROMER". Diss Express. 5 September 1902. p. 8.
  3. ^ "NEW LIFEBOAT FOR THE COAST OF DEVONSHIRE". The Langport & Somerton Herald. 30 April 1904. p. 5.
  4. ^ "NEW LIFEBOAT FOR THE NORFOLK COAST". The Evening Star and Daily Herald. 2 December 1904. p. 2.
  5. ^ "NEW LIFEBOAT STATION AT ALDEBURGH". Norwich Mercury. 9 August 1905. p. 4.
  6. ^ "NEW LIFE-BOAT FOR SOUTH COAST". Chichester Observer. 1 November 1916. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Wells - New Lifeboat". Lynn Advertiser. 6 October 1916. p. 3.