45ft Watson-class lifeboat

45ft Watson-class RNLB B.A.S.P. (ON 687) in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Class overview
Name45ft Watson-class
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byvarious
Succeeded by45ft 6in Watson-class
Cost£6,000–£8,500
Built(1912), 1919–1925
In service1912–1956
Completed22
Lost1
Retired21
General characteristics
Class & type45ft Watson-class motor lifeboat
Length45 ft (14 m)
Beam12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion
  • 1 x 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl petrol
  • 1 x 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl petrol
Speed8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Range125 nmi (232 km; 144 mi)
Crew8–12

The 45 ft Watson-class was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1919 and 1925, and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1919 and 1956.

History

In 1898 the first 45 ft Watson was built, one of the largest pulling and sailing lifeboats built for the RNLI. Only three of these 45 footers were built, the last in 1901.[1]

The third boat, Albert Edward (ON 463), was based at Clacton-on-Sea, and after eleven years service, was taken in hand for rebuilding with a motor. A 40-bhp Tylor C 4-cylinder petrol engine was fitted but little else was changed and, like all single engine lifeboats, a full sailing rig and drop keel was retained. The boat returned to service at Clacton in 1912 and served there until 1929.[1]

With the conversion of ON 463 deemed a success, plans were put in hand for the production of a series of 45 ft Watson motors, but due to the First World War, the first boat did not appear until 1919.[1]

Description

Like ON 463, the first eleven production boats were open decked and retained full sail plans and a drop keel. The first seven boats were powered by a 60-bhp Tylor D1 6-cylinder petrol engine, while the rest had an RNLI designed 80-bhp DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine, nine of which were built by Weyburn Engineering, and five by J. Samuel White.[2]

Experience showed that the open deck layout was inadequate for the longer services operated by the motor lifeboats, and from the late 1920s, a shelter was added ahead of the steering position. The final ten boats, built from 1923, John R. Webb (ON 684), were to a revised design with a cabin capable of taking twenty survivors ahead of the engine room.[2]

Fleet

45ft Watson-class

ON[a] Name Built In service[1] Stations Shelter Comments[1][2]
463 Albert Edward 1901 1912–1929 Clacton-on-Sea No [Note 1] Sold October 1932.
At Haven Marina, Ipswich, October 2023.
1929–1932 Arranmore
648 Elsie 1919 1919–1930 St Mary's 1927 [Note 2] Sold January 1951.
Renamed Happy Return. Last reported as a yacht in Tahiti, 1960.
1930–1946 Helvick Head
1946–1951 Relief fleet
649 Duke of Connaught 1919 1919–1920 Baltimore 1928 [Note 3] Intended to be Duke of Connaught, but named Shamrock at the naming ceremony in 1920.
Shamrock 1920–1950 [Note 4] Sold February 1952.
Last reported at Bowling Canal Basin, Dumbarton, June 1991.
1950–1952 Relief fleet
653 William Evans 1921 1921–1927 Wexford 1927 [Note 5] Sold November 1940.
1927–1927 Rosslare Harbour
1927–1939 Galway Bay
654 Joseph Adlam 1921 1921–1948 Blyth 1928 [Note 6] Sold February 1952.
1948–1951 Relief fleet
658 Dunleary
(Civil Service No.7) 		1919 1919–1938 Kingstown 1928 [Note 7] Sold May 1951.
Under restoration as Dunleary by the Dunleary Restoration Project, at Coal Harbour, Dún Laoghaire, December 2025.[3]
1939–1951 Lytham St Annes
659 Frederick and Emma 1921 1921–1938 Wick 1929 [Note 8] Sold August 1950.
Renamed Stadats. A yacht at Melton Boatyard, Melton, Suffolk, December 2025.[4]
1939–1950 Amble
668 Duke of Connaught 1921 1921–1939 Peterhead No.2 1927 [Note 9] Sold October 1951.
Renamed King John II. Last reported at Uppsala, Sweden, July 2012.
1939–1951 Relief fleet
671 The Brothers 1922 1922–1931 Penlee 1929 [Note 10] Sold August 1952.
Renamed Admiral Douglas. Reported as The Brothers to have been broken up at Gweek Classic Boatyard. Hull now at Ferry Bridge Marine, Portland Beach Road, Weymouth, December 2025.
1931–1934 Falmouth
1934–1937 Relief fleet
1937–1938 Selsey
1938–1946 Relief fleet
1946–1947 Plymouth
1948–1952 Workington
678 Edward, Prince of Wales 1924 1924–1947 The Mumbles 1928 [Note 11]
Capsized on service with eight crew lost, 23 April 1947. Boat later destroyed by fire.
679 Elizabeth Newton 1923 1924–1939 Hartlepool 1928 [Note 12] Sold May 1953.
Renamed Viking. Lost at Rhyl, 1981.
1939–1940 Berwick-upon-Tweed
1940–1953 Relief fleet
680 City of Bradford 1923 1923–1929 Humber 1929 [Note 13]
Renamed City of Bradford I in 1929.
City of Bradford I 1929–1930 Relief fleet Sold October 1952. Renamed Hammer. Last reported at Isle of Arran, 1980s.
1930–1932 Humber No.2
1932–1952 Relief fleet

45ft Watson-class (Revised)

ON[a] Name Built In service[1] Stations Comments[1][2]
684 John R. Webb 1923 1923–1930 Tenby [Note 14]
Renamed 684 RM in 1931.
684 RM 1931–1932 Barra Island Renamed Hearts of Oak in 1934.
1932–1934 Relief fleet
Hearts of Oak 1934–1936 Yarmouth [Note 15] Sold 1955.
Renamed William Bradley. Stored for restoration as Hearts of Oak on the Yonne (river), Migennes, France, December 2024.
1937–1955 Relief fleet
685 J. W. Archer 1924 1924–1950 Teesmouth [Note 16] Sold July 1956.
Renamed Brighter Hope (HL 44). In storage as J. W. Archer at TCC Plant, Middlesbrough, October 2024.[5]
1950–1954 Amble
1954–1956 Relief fleet
686 T. B. B. H. 1924 1924–1949 Portrush [Note 17] Sold January 1953.
Renamed Moonraker, Hamptonian and Juno. Now as T. B. B. H. on the River Hamble, March 2025.[6]
1949–1953 Relief fleet
687 B. A. S. P. 1924 1924–1934 Yarmouth [Note 18] Sold February 1955.
Renamed Valencia. On display since April 1996 as B. A. S. P. in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025.[7]
1934–1940 Falmouth
1940–1947 Relief fleet
1947–1951 Valentia
1951–1955 Relief fleet
688 Grace Darling 1924 1924 1924 Wembley Exhibition [Note 19]
Renamed The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No.1) after the exhibition.
The Lord Southborough
(Civil Service No.1) 		1925–1951 Margate [Note 20] Sold January 1955.
A yacht in Cyrenaica in 1955. Last reported at Sholing, Southampton, November 2001.
1951–1955 Relief fleet
689 Manchester and Salford 1924 1924–1946 Douglas [Note 21] Sold October 1954.
Renamed Alison Jane and Jean Louise. Fully restored as Manchester and Salford at the Douglas Boatyard, Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, July 2025.[8]
1946–1954 Relief fleet
690 C. and S. 1925 1925–1940 Dunmore East [Note 22] Sold November 1947.
Renamed Caradoc. Last reported at Victoria, British Columbia, 1985.
1940–1943 Pwllheli
1943–1946 Relief fleet
1946–1947 Valentia
692 Milburn 1925 1925–1946 Holy Island [Note 23] Sold September 1955.
Renamed Asmara, later Rosanaed. Last reported at Denton Island, Newhaven, East Sussex, February 2020.
1946–1955 Relief fleet
694 H. F. Bailey 1924 1924–1928 Cromer No.1 [Note 24]
Renamed J. B. Proudfoot in 1936.
1929–1935 Cromer No.1
J. B. Proudfoot 1935–1941 Relief fleet [Note 25] Sold September 1956.
Renamed Gramarie. Last reported on the hard at Marbella, Spain, June 2019.
1941–1945 Southend-on-Sea
1945–1947 Relief fleet
1947–1949 Dover
1949–1956 Relief fleet
695 M. O. Y. E. 1925 1926–1949 Porthdinllaen [Note 26] Sold April 1956.
1949–1956 Relief fleet
  1. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Gift of the Freemasons of England, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,890. 40-bhp Tylor C 4-cyl. petrol engine motor conversion, 1912.
  2. ^ Gift of the Rt. Hon. A. Morley, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,295.
  3. ^ Gift of the Freemasons of England, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,013.
  4. ^ Funded by the RNLI, (the gift of the Freemasons of England redirected to ON 668)
  5. ^ Legacy of Mr W. Evans, part built by Summers and Payne of Southampton, completed by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,730.
  6. ^ Legacy of Mr J. Adlam, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,020.
  7. ^ Gift of Civil Service LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,074.
  8. ^ Legacy of Mrs E. M. Beer, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,141.
  9. ^ Gift of the Freemasons of England reallocated from ON 649, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,889.
  10. ^ Gift of the Misses H. H. A. and C. M Eddy, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £13,214.
  11. ^ Gift of the Welsh LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £12,811.
  12. ^ Legacy of Mr R. Newton, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £12,724.
  13. ^ Gift of the City of Bradford LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £12,758.
  14. ^ Legacy of Mr J. R. Webb, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,747.
  15. ^ Fitted with 85-hp Ferry Diesel engines, 1934.
  16. ^ Legacy of Mr J. W. Archer, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,515.
  17. ^ Legacies of Mrs Thornton, Mr Bartlett, Miss Boustred and Miss Hooper, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,435.
  18. ^ Legacies of Mr Blackburn, Mrs Armstrong, Mrs Smart and Mrs Price, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,519.
  19. ^ Built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,997.
  20. ^ Gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,997.
  21. ^ Gift of the Manchester and Salford LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,456.
  22. ^ Gift of Mr Coats and legacy of Mrs Smart, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,424.
  23. ^ Legacy of Sir Charles Milburn and a gift from Mr F. Milburn, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,449.
  24. ^ Legacy of Mr H. F. Bailey, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,530.
  25. ^ Legacy of Miss F. B. Proudfoot.
  26. ^ Legacies of Miss Manby, the Misses J. L. and J. C. Owen, Mr Yates and Mr Lloyd, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,614.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 18–29.
  2. ^ a b c d Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Life-boats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 1, 6–7.
  3. ^ "Dunleary". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Stadats". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  5. ^ "J W Archer (ON 685)". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  6. ^ "T.B.B.H". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  7. ^ "B.A.S.P". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Manchester & Salford". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
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