Oakley-class lifeboat

Oakley-class lifeboat
RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960)
Class overview
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byLiverpool / Watson
Succeeded byRother / Solent
Cost
  • 37ft: £27,000–£38,000
  • 48ft 6in: £40,000–£72,000
Built1958–1971
In service1958–1993
Completed
  • 37ft: 26
  • 48ft 6in: 5
Retired31
Preserved
  • Museum / Display 11
  • Afloat 6
  • Awaiting restoration 3
General characteristics 37-foot
Displacement12 long tons (12 t)
Length37 ft (11.28 m)
Beam11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draught3 ft 4 in (1.02 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 43-hp Perkins P4M
  • 2 x 52-hp Ford Thornycroft
  • 2 x Parsons Porbeagle
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Complement7
General characteristics 48-foot 6in
Displacement30 long tons (30 t)
Length48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
Draught4 ft 4 in (1.32 m)
Propulsion2 × 110bhp Gardner 6LX
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Complement8

The Oakley-class lifeboat refers to two types of self-righting lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1958 and 1993. The 37-foot (11.3 m) Oakley was designed for carriage launching, while the larger 48-foot-6-inch (14.8 m) version was designed for slipway launching or to lie afloat. During their service they saved a combined total of 1,456 lives in 3,734 rescue launches.

The class is known by the name of its designer, RNLI naval architect Richard Oakley.

History

During the first half of the twentieth century the RNLI had equipped its lifeboat stations with motor lifeboats designed by G L Watson and, later, J R Barnett. Both these men had designed boats that were generally stable but, unlike the earlier Peake-class boats, were not self-righting. Part of the problem was that motor lifeboats were much heavier than pulling and sailing boats, which could be packed with cork to make them buoyant. Richard Oakley worked out how to use shifting water ballast to create a self-righting motor lifeboat.[1][2]

Oakley's 37-foot (11 m) prototype was launched in 1958 and placed in service at Scarborough. Production boats started to be built in 1961 and in 1963 the prototype 48-foot-6-inch (14.78 m) boat was launched and sent to Yarmouth. The last Barnett-class was built in 1960 and the final Watson-class in 1963, after which Oakleys were the only all-weather lifeboats put into service for the next four years.[3]

Design

The Oakley was designed as a self-righting boat. The design combined great stability with the ability to self-right in the event of it capsizing. This was achieved by a system of shifting water ballast. The system worked by the lifeboat taking on one and half tons of sea water into a tank built into the base of the hull at launching. If the lifeboat then reached a crucial point of capsize the ballast water would transfer through valves to a righting tank built into the port side. If the capsize was to the starboard side of the lifeboat, the water shift started when an angle of 165° was reached. This would push the boat into completing a full 360° roll. If the capsize was to the port side, the water transfer started at 110°. In this case the weight of water combined with the weight of machinery aboard the lifeboat usually managed to stop the roll and allow the lifeboat to bounce back to upright. The tank was emptied when the ship was taken out of the sea. There was a problem with damp sand left in the tank after the water was drained, which caused weak electrolytic action that eroded the copper nails which held the wooden hulls together.[4]

The hull of the Oakley class was constructed from two wooden skins with a layer of calico between. After several years it was found that the calico absorbed water, which caused softening of the wood around the copper nails. This led to a series of surveys in the late 1980s and the withdrawal of some boats and replanking of others.[4] The skins were made from diagonally laid African mahogany planks. The outer one was 0.375 inches (9.5 mm) thick with the inner 0.25 inches (6.4 mm). The keel was iron and weighed 1.154 tons. The hull was divided into eleven watertight compartments. Two sizes were built. Most boats were 37 feet (11.3 m) in length and 11 feet 6 inches (3.51 m) in beam, displacing 12.05 tons when fully laden with crew and gear. Five larger boats were built that were 48 feet 6 inches (14.78 m) long and 14 feet (4.3 m) wide.

The 48ft 6in Oakley

48-12 Charles Henry in private use (Exeter, 2007)

After five years production of the 37-foot boat, the RNLI decided to extend the water ballast self-righting principal to a larger boat suitable for slipway launching and lying afloat. In 1962 a prototype boat was built, 48-01 Earl and Countess Howe (ON 968) and in appearance it resembled an extended 42ft Watson-class with a long tapering superstructure running forward from an aft cockpit which was covered, but open to the stern. The boat's water ballast system used 23⁄4 tons of water compared to 11⁄2 tons in the smaller boats. Power came from two 110 bhp Gardner 6LX six cylinder diesel engines, the redesigned and uprated version of the engine fitted to the last ten 52ft Barnett class boats. Displacing 29 tons and built at a cost of £40,000, RNLB The Earl and Countess Howe (ON 968) was the first RNLI lifeboat to be built with radar installed and went on station at Yarmouth in February 1963.

It was four years before further examples were built, by which time a major redesign of the superstructure had resulted in the Mk. II version. In this an enclosed wheelhouse was positioned amidships, accessed by sliding doors on either side at the forward end. Behind the wheelhouse was an aft cabin which could accommodate a loaded stretcher. Initially, radio aerials were rigged between the foremast and a bipod mast at the back of the aft cabin, on the roof of which the radar scanner was mounted on a pylon. Later, the masts were removed and twin pole aerials fitted to the aft cabin just behind the wheelhouse with a small tripod mast fitted to the wheelhouse roof. RNLB Ruby and Arthur Reed (ON 990) went on station at Cromer in March 1967, followed by RNLB James and Catherine Macfarlane (ON 989) which took up duties at Padstow in July 1967.

Attention now turned to a steel-hulled development of the 48-foot 6in Oakley which would dispense with the complex water ballast system and achieve its self-righting capability from a watertight superstructure. This emerged as the Solent class and initial orders for eight boats were placed with Operational Numbers following on from the Oakleys (48-004 to 48-011, the three digit second part of the number indicating a metal hull). Two final Oakleys were then ordered, taking Operational Numbers 48-12 and 48-13. The first of these, 48-12 Charles Henry (ON 1015) went on station at Selsey in January 1969, a few months before the first Solent. 48-13 Princess Marina (ON 1016) began service at Wick in July 1970.

Like the smaller boats, the 48-foot 6in Oakleys were prone to hull deterioration through electrolysis and were not considered for sale for further use. Initially, all five boats were put on display at various locations, but two, 48-01 and 48-13 were subsequently broken up. After ten years on display, 48-12 was sold to a private owner who removed the water ballast system and put the boat back on the water, leaving 48-02 and 48-03 on public display at Lands End and Hythe Marina respectively. 48-02, James and Catherine MacFarlane, after being out in the open at Lands End since 1988, was sold to a private owner in July 2016 and moved to Berkshire for restoration. The boat is now fully restored, based at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly.[3]

Oakley fleet

37-foot boats

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built In service[3] Stations Comments[5]
942 37-01 J. G. Graves of Sheffield 1958 1958–1978 Scarborough [Note 1] Sold 1994.
Preserved since April 1996 in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025.[6]
1979–1988 Relief fleet
1988–1991 Clogherhead
1991–1992 Relief fleet
1992–1993 Newcastle
960 37-02 Manchester Unity of Oddfellows 1961 1961–1990 Sheringham [Note 2] Sold April 1991.
Preserved at The Mo Sheringham Museum.[7]
961 37-03 Calouste Gulbenkian 1961 1962–1969 Weston-super-Mare [Note 3] Sold November 1991.
Under restoration at Donaghadee, December 2025.[8]
1970–1990 Relief fleet
1990–1991 New Quay
966 37-04 Robert and Dorothy Hardcastle 1962 1962–1968 Boulmer [Note 4] Sold April 1993.
Partially restored, on display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum at Sunderland, December 2025.
1968–1991 Filey
1991–1993 Relief fleet
972 37-05 The Will and Fanny Kirby 1963 1963–1979 Seaham [Note 5] Sold 1993.
Preserved since April 1996 in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025.[9]
1979–1983 Relief fleet
1983–1993 Flamborough
973 37-06 Fairlight 1964 1964–1988 Hastings [Note 6] Sold October 1994.
At Blakeney Harbour, December 2025.
1988–1989 Relief fleet
1989–1990 St Ives
1990–1991 Relief fleet
1991–1992 New Quay
974 37-07 Jane Hay 1964 1964–1974 St Abbs [Note 7] Sold and dismantled at Arklow, August 1995.
Hull remains at Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, April 2019.
1974–1980 Relief fleet
1980–1992 Newcastle
975 37-08 Sir James Knott 1963 1963–1969 Cullercoats [Note 8] Sold 1990.
Preserved at Kirkleatham Old Hall Museum, Redcar, December 2025.[10]
1969–1972 Relief fleet
1972–1985 Redcar
1985–1990 Relief fleet
976 37-09 Lilly Wainwright 1964 1964–1990 Llandudno [Note 9] Sold 1993 to Cobh Heritage Trust.
Fully restored, at Crosshaven Boatyard, Cobh, June 2025.
1990–1992 Kilmore Quay
977 37-10 Charles Fred Grantham 1964 1964–1990 Skegness [Note 10] Sold 1993.
Broken up at Wareham, Dorset, August 1993.
1990–1991 Scarborough
1991–1992 Relief fleet
978 37-11 The Royal Thames 1964 1964–1969 Caister [Note 11] Sold 1994.
Stored inland, 5 mi (8.0 km) from Cromer, December 2023.
1970–1978 Runswick
1979–1991 Pwllheli
1991–1993 Clogherhead
979 37-12 James and Catherine Macfarlane 1964 1964–1967 Relief fleet [Note 12]
Renamed Amelia in 1967.
979 37-12 Amelia 1964 1967–1978 Relief fleet [Note 13] Sold February 1992.
Preserved at Charlestown Museum until closure in 2019. Awaiting restoration at South Ferriby Marina, August 2025.[11]
1978–1991 Scarborough
980 37-13 William Henry and Mary King 1964 1964–1967 Cromer No.2 [Note 14]Sold 1990.
Located in playground, Drayton Park Primary School, Highbury, London.
1967–1988 Bridlington
1989–1990 North Sunderland
981 37-14 Mary Pullman 1964 1965–1989 Kirkcudbright [Note 15] Sold 1991.
On display since March 1993, at Baytree Garden Centre, Weston, Spalding, December 2023.
982 37-15 Ernest Tom Neathercoat 1965 1965–1990 Wells-next-the-Sea [Note 16] Sold 1992.
Fully restored display/training boat at Wells-next-the-Sea, December 2025.
1990–1991 North Sunderland
983 37-16 The Doctors 1965 1965–1991 Anstruther [Note 17] Sold 1993.
Under restoration at Donaghadee, December 2025.[12]
1991–1993 Relief fleet
984 37-17 Mary Joicey 1966 1966–1981 Newbiggin [Note 18] Sold 1989.
On display at Newbiggin Maritime Centre, December 2025.[13]
1981–1985 Relief fleet
1985–1986 Redcar
1986–1988 Relief fleet
1988–1989 Hastings
1989 St Ives
985 37-18 Valentine Wyndham-Quin 1967 1968–1984 Clacton-on-Sea [Note 19] Sold 1988.
On display since July 1995 at The Lifeboat House, The Green, Harwich, December 2025.[14]
1984–1988 Clogherhead
986 37-19 Lloyds II 1966 1966–1990 Ilfracombe [Note 20] Sold in 1992.
Broken up at Crescent Marine, Rainham, Kent, 1993.
1990–1992 Sheringham
991 37-20 Edward and Mary Lester 1967 1967–1989 North Sunderland [Note 21] Sold 1989.
Broken up at Southampton in 1989.
992 37-21 Frank Penfold Marshall 1968 1968–1989 St Ives [Note 22] Sold 1989.
Broken up at Southampton in 1989.
993 37-22 Har Lil 1968 1968–1990 Rhyl [Note 23] Sold December 1991.
Restored, at Porth Penrhyn, Bangor, Gwynedd, September 2025.
994 37-23 The Vincent Nesfield 1969 1969–1972 Relief fleet [Note 24] Sold 1991.
Broken up at Arklow in December 1991.
1972–1973 Port Erin
1973–1988 Relief fleet
1989–1991 Kilmore Quay
995 37-24 James Ball Ritchie 1970 1970–1991 Ramsey [Note 25] Sold 1992.
Broken up at McAlisters boatyard, Dumbarton, September 1992.
996 37-25 Birds Eye 1970 1970–1990 New Quay [Note 26] Sold 1991.
On display from May 1991 at Moelfre Seawatch Centre, December 2025.[15]
997 37-26 Lady Murphy 1971 1972–1988 Kilmore Quay [Note 27] Sold 1990.
Broken up at Arklow, August 1995

48-foot 6-inch boats

All built by William Osborne, Littlehampton except ON 989, Berthon Boat Co., Lymington

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built In service[3] Stations Comments[16]
968 48-01 The Earl and Countess Howe 1963 1963–1977 Yarmouth [Note 28] Sold 1984.
Displayed at RNLI Depot, Poole 1984–2003. Broken up at Portishead, September 2003.
1977–1984 Walton and Frinton
989 48-02 James and Catherine Macfarlane 1967 1967–1983 Padstow [Note 29] Sold 1988.
On display at Land's End 1988–2016. Now restored, at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, August 2024.
1983–1987 Lizard-Cadgwith
990 48-03 Ruby and Arthur Reed 1966 1967–1984 Cromer [Note 30] Sold 1988.
On display from 1990 at Hythe Marina, Southampton, December 2025.
1985–1988 St Davids
1015 48-12 Charles Henry 1968 1969–1984 Selsey [Note 31] Sold 1987.
On display at Merry Hill Shopping Centre, Dudley 1989–1999.
Restored, at Royal Quays Marina, North Shields, March 2025.[17]
1984–1987 Baltimore
1016 48-13 Princess Marina 1970 1970–1988 Wick [Note 32] Sold 1989.
Displayed at Motor Boat Museum, Pitsea. Broken up in 2003, engines supplied to ON 805.
  1. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Gift of J. G. Graves Charitable Trust, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 43-hp Perkins P4M diesel engines, costing £26,700.
  2. ^ Gift of the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 43-hp Perkins P4M diesel engines, costing £28,500. Twin Thornycroft 52-hp engines fitted in 1982.
  3. ^ Gift of the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 43-hp Perkins P4M diesel engines, costing £34,000.
  4. ^ Legacy of Mr H. R. Hardcastle, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 43-hp Perkins P4M diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  5. ^ Legacy of the Mr and Mrs W. L. Kirby Benevolent Fund, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 43-hp Perkins P4M diesel engines, costing £33,000. Twin Thornycroft 52-hp engines fitted in 1982.
  6. ^ Legacies of Mrs Wood and Mrs Dudman, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  7. ^ Legacies of Mrs Erskine, and Miss Smith, plus a gift from Miss Gillespie, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £31,848.
  8. ^ Gift of the Sir James Knott Trust, plus RNLI funds, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  9. ^ Legacy of Mr Wainwright, plus gift from the Arthur Jowett Fund, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  10. ^ Legacies of Mr Montford and Miss Dearden, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  11. ^ Legacy of Mr Forster, gift of Miss Ellison and Mr Jackson, plus RNLI funds, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £31,749.
  12. ^ Legacy of Mr R. F. Macfarlane, and RNLI funds, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  13. ^ Legacy of Mrs Borland.
  14. ^ Legacy of Miss King, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  15. ^ Gift of Sir Derek Wheeler, Bt, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £33,000.
  16. ^ Legacy of Mr Nethercoat plus Wm. Osborne, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £34,000.
  17. ^ Gift of Dr Nora Allen, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £34,000.
  18. ^ Legacy of Mrs Joicey, built by Herd and McKenzie of Buckie, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £37,000.
  19. ^ Legacy of Mr Harris, plus an anonymous gift, built by Herd and McKenzie of Buckie, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £37,000.
  20. ^ Gift of the members of Lloyd's of London, built by Morris & Lorimer of Sandbank, Argyll, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £34,000.
  21. ^ Gift and legacy of Mrs Lester, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £37,500.
  22. ^ Gift of Mrs Marshall, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £37,000.
  23. ^ Legacy of Miss Watt, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £37,000.
  24. ^ Gift of Mrs Giddins Fund, and legacies of Mr Cowls and Mr Ringer, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £38,000.
  25. ^ Gift of Mrs Ritchie, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £38,000.
  26. ^ Gift of Birds Eye Foods Ltd, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £38,500.
  27. ^ Legacy of Lady Frances Murphy, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Parsons Porbeagle diesel engines, costing £38,360.
  28. ^ From RNLI funds, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX diesel engines, costing £40,348.
  29. ^ Gift of Mr Macfarlane, built by Berthon Boat Company of Lymington, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX diesel engines, costing £53,000.
  30. ^ Gift of Mrs Reed, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX diesel engines, costing £60,000.
  31. ^ Legacy of Mr Henry, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX diesel engines, costing £72,000.
  32. ^ Gift of H. M. Thomson Trust, and legacy of Mrs D. H. Napier, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX diesel engines, costing £72,000.

References

  1. ^ Leach, Nicholas (2003). Oakley Class Lifeboats: an Illustrated History of the RNLI's Oakley and Rother Lifeboats. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 978-0-7524-2784-3.
  2. ^ Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather; Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0711018359.
  3. ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. p. 38–41.
  4. ^ a b Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 87–88. ISBN 0750943076.
  5. ^ Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Lifeboats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 37–41.
  6. ^ "J G Graves of Sheffield". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  7. ^ "The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Calouste Gulbenkian". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  9. ^ "The Will and Fanny Kirby". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Sir James Knott". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Amelia". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  12. ^ "The Doctors". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Mary Joicey". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Valentine Wyndham Quin". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Birds Eye". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  16. ^ Morris 2008, p. 42–44.
  17. ^ "Charles Henry". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
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