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Tubular-class lifeboat

Updated: Wikipedia source

Tubular-class lifeboat

Tubular lifeboats were effectively a type of catamaran, or raft, with a flat deck mounted between two buoyant tubes. The decks of the boats were approximately 11 inches (280 mm) above the water. The lifeboat was the design of Messrs. Richardson, of Bala, Merionethshire. The boats were usually 12, 14 or 16-oared, with sails available for suitable conditions. A tubular lifeboat was first placed in service at Rhyl in 1856 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Even though just six more of this type were constructed for the Institution, tubular lifeboats were in service with the RNLI for a combined period of 83 years. They operated primarily at just two stations, Rhyl and New Brighton.

Tables

· Tubular lifeboat fleet
Challenger
Challenger
ON
–
Name
Challenger
Built
1851
Length
40-foot
In Service
1852–????
Station
–
Comments
mw- .mw- Prototype vessel, sold for service in Oporto Portugal.
Unnamed,Morgan
Unnamed,Morgan
ON
70
Name
Unnamed,Morgan
Built
1856
Length
32-foot
In Service
1856–18661867–1893
Station
Rhyl
Comments
Away for repairs, 1866–1867
Rescue,Willie & Arthur
Rescue,Willie & Arthur
ON
Pre-387
Name
Rescue,Willie & Arthur
Built
1862
Length
42-foot
In Service
1863–18661867–1876
Station
New Brighton
Comments
Rescue withdrawn from service in 1866, completely rebuilt, returned to service in 1867 as 40-foot 3in Willie & Arthur.
No. 1
No. 1
ON
–
Name
No. 1
Built
1870
Length
43-foot 6in
In Service
1870–1894
Station
–
Comments
Operated by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
Willie & Arthur
Willie & Arthur
ON
71
Name
Willie & Arthur
Built
1876
Length
45-foot
In Service
1876–1888
Station
New Brighton No.1
Stuart Hay
Stuart Hay
ON
Pre-625
Name
Stuart Hay
Built
1878
Length
40-foot
In Service
1878–1888
Station
New Brighton
Henry Richardson
Henry Richardson
ON
221
Name
Henry Richardson
Built
1888
Length
43-foot
In Service
1888–18901890–18931893–1898
Station
New Brighton No.2New BrightonNew Brighton No.1
Caroline Richardson
Caroline Richardson
ON
287
Name
Caroline Richardson
Built
1891
Length
35-foot 7in
In Service
1891–18921892–18971897–1899
Station
PwllheliRhylRelief fleet
Caroline Richardson
Caroline Richardson
ON
398
Name
Caroline Richardson
Built
1896
Length
34-foot
In Service
1897–1939
Station
Rhyl
ON
Name
Built
Length
In Service
Station
Comments
–
Challenger
1851
40-foot
1852–????
–
mw- Prototype vessel, sold for service in Oporto Portugal.
70
Unnamed,Morgan
1856
32-foot
1856–18661867–1893
Rhyl
Away for repairs, 1866–1867
Pre-387
Rescue,Willie & Arthur
1862
42-foot
1863–18661867–1876
New Brighton
Rescue withdrawn from service in 1866, completely rebuilt, returned to service in 1867 as 40-foot 3in Willie & Arthur.
–
No. 1
1870
43-foot 6in
1870–1894
–
Operated by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
71
Willie & Arthur
1876
45-foot
1876–1888
New Brighton No.1
Pre-625
Stuart Hay
1878
40-foot
1878–1888
New Brighton
221
Henry Richardson
1888
43-foot
1888–18901890–18931893–1898
New Brighton No.2New BrightonNew Brighton No.1
287
Caroline Richardson
1891
35-foot 7in
1891–18921892–18971897–1899
PwllheliRhylRelief fleet
398
Caroline Richardson
1896
34-foot
1897–1939
Rhyl

References

  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 40-foot x 8-foot (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £130.
  3. 32-foot x 8-foot 4in (12-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £200.
  4. 42-foot x 10-foot (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool, costing £230.
  5. 43-foot 6in x 11-foot 6in (16-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £130.
  6. 45-foot x 11-foot (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by J. Hamilton, Jnr, of Liverpool, costing £562-10s-0d.
  7. 40-foot x 8-foot 10in (12-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by J. Hamilton, Jnr, of Liverpool, costing £500.
  8. 43-foot x 12-foot 6in (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by the Naval Construction and Armament Co. of Barrow-in-Furness,
  9. 35-foot 7in x 10-foot (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by Mechan of Glasgow, costing £633.
  10. 34-foot x 8-foot 10in (12-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £548.
  11. The Lifeboat
    https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/01/06/tubular-life-boat
  12. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025
  13. List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2
  14. The Lifeboat
    https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/02/16/annual-report
  15. "Noble Bequests"
    https://newspapers.library.wales/view/4578925/4578927/7/
  16. "Tubular Lifeboats"
    https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3802795/3802798/46/
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