Ramsgate-class lifeboat
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ramsgate-class |
| Builders | |
| Operators |
|
| Preceded by | Norfolk and Suffolk-class |
| Succeeded by | 46ft 9in Watson-class |
| Cost | £8,500 |
| Built | 1925–1928 |
| In service | 1925–1998 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Retired | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 21–23 tons |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 8 knots (9.2 mph) |
| Crew | 9 |
The Ramsgate-class motor lifeboat was a special design produced by the RNLI for three stations covering the Thames estuary and required to operate in shallow waters.
History
Designed at a time when the RNLI was happy to build special boats for the particular needs of individual stations, the Ramsgate-class (named after the first station to operate one) was essentially an amalgam of Norfolk and Suffolk and Watson design principles intended for the shallow waters of the Thames estuary.
The first boat, RNLB Prudential (ON 697), was 48 feet (15 m) long and single engined. The other two were 6 inches (15 cm) longer and twin engined. All three had long careers at their respective stations but when they were replaced between 1953 and 1955, it was with standard 46ft 9in Watson boats.[1]
Description
The first Ramsgate was an open design with no cockpits and low end boxes. Powered by a single 80-bhp Weyburn built DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine driving a single screw, the boat retained an auxiliary sailing rig as well as six oars.[2]
The other two boats were substantially redesigned, being six inches (15 cm) longer and powered by two 40-bhp Weyburn built CE4 4-cylinder petrol engines driving twin screws. The sailing rig was much reduced and the boats had a shelter ahead of the cockpit covering the engine controls. Just ahead of this was a funnel for engine exhaust.[2]
Fleet
| ON[a] | Name | Built | In service[1] | Station | Comments[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 697 | Prudential | 1925 | 1925–1953 | Ramsgate | [Note 1] Sold November 1953. Renamed Trimilia, at Ipswich Haven Marina, October 2023.[3] |
| 704 | Greater London (Civil Service No.3) |
1928 | 1928–1941 | Southend-on-Sea | [Note 2] Sold September 1957. Renamed ADES 1 Francisco Alvarez with ADES Uruguay. See below.[4] |
| 1941–1945 | Reserve fleet | ||||
| 1945–1955 | Southend-on-Sea | ||||
| 1955–1957 | Reserve fleet | ||||
| 705 | E.M.E.D. | 1928 | 1928–1953 | Walton and Frinton | [Note 3] Sold January 1956. Renamed Capitán Christiansen, with Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile. See below.[5] |
| 1953–1955 | Reserve fleet |
- ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
Other fleets
| RNLI ON[a] | Name | Built | In service[1] | Station | Comments[2][1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 704 |
|
1928 | 1957–1991 | Retired September 1991. In storage at Ercna UTU, Carmelo, Uruguay, December 2025 | |
| 705 | Capitán Christiansen (Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso) |
1928 | 1955–1998 | Valparaiso, Chile | Retired 1998. On display at Chile National Maritime Museum, Valparaiso, December 2025. |
- ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
See also
Notes
- ^ Gift of Prudential Assurance Co., built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with a single 80-hp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl petrol engine, costing £8,417.
- ^ Gift of the Civil Service Lifeboat Fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl petrol engines, costing £8,668.
- ^ Legacies of Mr Dewhirst, Miss Yates, Mr Barnes and Miss Watkins, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl petrol engines, costing £8,700.
References
- ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. p. 28–29.
- ^ a b c d Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Lifeboats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 63.
- ^ "Trimilia". Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "Greater London (Civil Service No. 3), Southend-on-Sea". RNLI. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ "The Capitán Christiansen at Muelle Barón". Robert Cutts. Retrieved 25 August 2009.