The Solent-class lifeboat is a steel-hulled version of the 48-foot-6-inch (14.78 m) Oakley-class self-righting lifeboat and is sometimes referred to as the 48-foot, 6-inch Oakley-class Mark III.[2] Solent Operational Numbers followed on from the first three 48-foot, 6-inch 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 and Tyne classes, one Arun class and the first eleven Merseys). Two digits indicates a wooden, glass-reinforced plastic or fiber-reinforced composite hull.
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders |
|
| 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 |
Description
editThe Solent was powered by twin 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines which gave the boat a top speed of 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph). There were twin spade rudders installed which were coupled to Mathway manual steering gear.[3]
Apart from the steel hull, the Solent-class differed from the Oakley-class in its self-righting mechanism. The Oakley used a water ballast system, while the Solent class was self-righting as a result of its watertight superstructure. The Solent was the last class of traditional displacement-type lifeboats designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.[2]
There were two versions of the Solent, unofficially known as "Mark I" and "Mark II". The "Mark I" boats have a vertical steering wheel. Sliding doors provide access to the forward end of the wheelhouse on each side. The "Mark II" boats have a seated steering position with hinged wheelhouse doors at the after end of the wheelhouse. These boats entered service in 1972.[2]
The first four Solent-class 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.
Fleet
edit| ON[a] | Op. No.[b] | Name | Built | In service[4] | Principal Station | Comments[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1007 | 48-004 | George Urie Scott | 1969 | 1969–1978 1979–1984 1985–1989 1989–1990 |
Lochinver Rosslare Harbour Lochinver Relief fleet |
Sold 1990. November 2022, Renamed Highlander, Ameland, NL |
| 1008 | 48-005 | James and Mariska Joicey | 1969 | 1969–1986 1987–1988 1988–1990 |
Peterhead The Lizard Relief fleet |
Sold 1990. Restored 2014–2021. December 2022, at Restonguet Creek, Mylor, Cornwall. |
| 1009 | 48-006 | Jack Shayler and the Lees | 1970 | 1970–1987 1988 1989 1989–1993 |
Bembridge Dunbar Wicklow Relief fleet |
Sold June 1994. Renamed Anne, SAR Tallinn, Estonia. Broken up 2021. |
| 1010 | 48-007 | David and Elizabeth King and E.B. | 1970 | 1970–1988 1988–1989 1989–1990 |
Longhope Invergordon Relief fleet |
Sold 1990. August 2022, Private Ownership, Unaltered, Glasson Dock, Lancashire |
| 1011 | 48-008 | R. Hope Roberts | 1969 | 1969–1978 1979–1985 1985–1987 1987 1987–1993 |
Rosslare Harbour Fraserburgh Galway Bay Relief fleet Courtmacsherry Harbour |
Sold 1993. October 2019, Renamed Sea Guardian, Private ownership, Gold Coast City Marina, Queensland, Aus. |
| 1012 | 48-009 | City of Birmingham | 1970 | 1970–1983 1984–1993 1993–1994 |
Exmouth Walton and Frinton Relief fleet |
Sold July 1995 to ADES Uruguay ADES 14. Retired 2014. |
| 1013 | 48-010 | The Royal British Legion Jubilee | 1970 | 1970–1978 1979–1979 1979–1986 1986–1988 1988–1990 |
Relief Fleet Fraserburgh Relief fleet Peterhead Relief fleet |
Sold April 1990. Named Ocean Jubilee, restored in Wakefield. Renamed The Royal British Legion Jubilee, Broken up in Knottingley, 2020. |
| 1014 | 48-011 | The Three Sisters | 1970 | 1970–1988 1988–1989 1989–1990 |
Thurso Wicklow Relief fleet |
Sold April 1990. October 2018, Heavily converted cruiser at Turnchapel, Plymouth |
| 1019 | 48-014 | Lady MacRobert | 1972 | 1972–1989 1989–1993 |
Montrose Relief fleet |
Sold March 1994 to ADES Uruguay ADES 12. Retired 2021. |
| 1020 | 48-015 | Hugh William Viscount Gough | 1973 | 1973–1984 1984–1988 1988–1993 |
Stornoway Barra Island Dunbar |
Sold September 1993. September 2021, Unaltered pleasure boat, Puteri Harbour Marina, Johur Baharu, Malaysia |
| 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 1992. March 2022, Unaltered, private ownership, Fraserburgh, Scotland |
References
edit- ^ Howarth, Patrick (1981), Lifeboat – In Danger's Hour. (Third Impression 1982 ed.), Hamlyn, p. 140, ISBN 0-600-34959-4
- ^ a b c Evans, Clayton (2003), Rescue at Sea – An International History of Lifesaving, Coastal Rescue Craft and Organisations, Conway Maritime Press, p. 161, ISBN 0-85177-934-4
- ^ "New £70,000 Lifeboat" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XL (429): 678–679. September 1969. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.