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46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat

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City of Bradford III
Class overview
Name46ft 9in Watson-class
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by46ft Watson-class
Succeeded by47ft Watson-class
Cost£17,000-£34,000
Built1947–1956
In service1947–1989
Completed28
Lost1
Retired27
General characteristics
Class and type46ft 9in Watson
Displacement22 tons
Length46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Beam12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
Propulsion(As built) 2 × 40bhp Ferry VE4 4-cylinder diesel
Speed8 knots
Crew8

The 46 ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1947 and 1956 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1947 and 1989.

History

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After the final three 46ft Watson-class boats had been completed in 1945/6, production switched to the slightly longer 46 ft 9in type in 1947. The first five boats were very similar in appearance to the final 46 ft types, with aft cockpits, turtle shaped shelters and funnel exhausts. In 1948, however, the deck and superstructure layout was completely redesigned. A new aluminium structure featured an open midships cockpit, with a large cabin aft of the cockpit and a smaller cabin forward which gave access to the engine room.

Description

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The wooden hulled 46 ft 9in Watson-class was built in two different variations, with the first five closely resembling the preceding 46 ft type. From 1948 the design was completely revised to provide a midships steering position in an open cockpit. There was a large aft survivor cabin which also housed the radio. At the rear of this cabin was a small aft cockpit with a hatch for stretchers to be passed in and an emergency helm position. A smaller forward cabin gave access to the engine room and contained the engine controls. The boats were powered by the same twin 40 bhp Ferry VE4 installation as the earlier boats, but the exhaust was taken up the foremast to outlets well above the deck. The 46 ft 9in Watsons had long lives and were updated through their careers. The first major modification was the enclosing of the cockpit, done to all boats from 1960 onwards. The wheelhouse fitted resembled that of the 47ft Watson but there was no room to install sliding doors, weather shields being installed instead. Radar was later installed on the wheelhouse roof and the original aerial rigging and the aft mast was removed and replaced by pole aerials. Most, but not all, of the boats were re-engined with various examples of Ford-based 6-cylinder diesel engines as described below. Finally, from the early 1980s all of the midships steering types (except ON 908, lost in the Fraserburgh disaster) were fitted with an air bag on the aft cabin roof to give a once only self-righting capability.

Engines

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The 46 ft 9in Watsons were the final boats to be equipped with RNLI designed engines. The 42ft Watson-class, introduced in 1954 was the first type to use commercially available engines, followed by the 47ft Watson-class in 1955 and the 52 ft Barnett-class Mk.II in 1957. These all used the Gardner LW engine in four, five and six cylinder forms respectively. The Gardner engines were too large and heavy for the earlier types and were only ever used in new build boats. However, in the mid 1950s Ford had introduced new 4- and 6-cylinder diesel engines for their Thames light truck and coach chassis. These soon attracted the attention of marine engine companies and many marinized versions were on the market. In 1961 the RNLI re-engined a 46ft Watson, ON 803, with 4-cylinder Ford-based Parsons Marlins and in 1963 a programme of re-engining 41ft Watsons and other boats with Parsons Porbeagles began. This 4-cylinder engine was adopted for the 37 ft Oakley-class from 1964 onwards. The 6-cylinder version was small and light enough to replace the 4-cylinder Ferry VE4 engines and, after a trial installation in ON 803 in 1963, a programme of re-engining some 46ft Watsons began in 1965. This was extended to the 46 ft 9in Watsons and in 1965 two boats (ON 852 and ON 908 ) were re-engined with these 6-cylinder Ford-based Parsons Barracuda diesels. Rated at 65 bhp, these gave a 62½% power increase, making the boats more powerful than the newer 47 ft Watsons, and between 1965 and 1968, seven boats were re-engined with Barracudas. In 1969/70, four boats received another 6-cylinder Ford based unit, the Watermota Sea Lion, rated at 70 bhp. From 1971, seven boats were equipped with 70 bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380s, the last as late as 1982, while in 1972 three boats received 70 bhp Ford Mermaid 595s. A feature of all of these re-engining programmes was the replacement of the foremast exhaust system by outlets on each side of the hull, similar to the 37 ft Oakleys. This allowed a slimmer, lighter foremast to be fitted. The exhaust system on some boats like the Howard Marryat remained unchanged .

Fleet

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Aft cockpit type

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ON[a] Name Built Builder In service Stations Re-engined Comments[1]
849 William Gammon - Manchester and District XXX 1947 Groves & Guttridge 1947–1974 The Mumbles 1968
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda 6-cyl diesel
Sold February 1984. In storage for Swansea Museum in December 2022.
1974–1982 Relief fleet
852 Tynesider 1947 J. Samuel White 1947–1979 Tynemouth 1965
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda 6-cyl diesel
Sold February 1984. Reported in November 2022 to be unaltered but operating as a pleasure boat at Iron Wharf, Faversham.
1979–1983 Relief fleet
853 Winston Churchill
(Civil Service No.8)
1947 J. Samuel White 1948–1979 Blyth 1966
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda 6-cyl diesel
Sold July 1983. Renamed Watson Explorer. Reported in August 2021 as in storage for restoration at Titchmarsh Marina, Walton-on-the-Naze.
1979–1982 Relief fleet
854 Sarah Tilson 1949 Alexander Robertson & Sons 1950–1978 Baltimore No Sold December 1979. In December 2015 it was seen to be unaltered but operating as a pleasure boat a Medway Bridge, Rochester, Kent.
1978–1979 Relief fleet
855 W.M. Tilson 1949 Alexander Robertson & Sons 1950–1969 Arranmore No Sold August 1970. By October 2012 it was semi-derelict at Magerascouse Road, Comber, County Down.
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

Midship steering cabin type

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ON Name Built Builder In service Stations Re-engined Comments[1]
865 Elizabeth Rippon 1948 J. Samuel White 1948–1975 St Helier 1966
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda
Sold October 1977. Reported in April 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat at Barmouth, Wales.
1975–1977 Relief fleet
866 Charles Henry Ashley 1949 J. Samuel White 1949–1979 Porthdinllaen 1969
2x70bhp Watermota Sea Lion
Sold March 1987. Reported in December 2022, to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat, at The Arsenal in Paris.
1979–1981 Relief fleet
1981–1982 Penlee
1982 Fowey
1982–1987 Relief fleet
867 Lady Scott
(Civil Service No.4)
1949 J. Samuel White 1949–1981 Portrush 1972
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold July 1987. Renamed Janet Rae. Reported in August 2017 as undergoing survey in Northern Ireland.
1981–1986 Relief fleet
868 John and Lucy Cordingley 1950 Sussex Yacht Co. 1950–1960 Teesmouth No Sold November 1981. Renamed Tempo. Reported in December 2022 to be at Hall Quay in Great Yarmouth.
1960–1969 Helvick Head
1969–1981 Relief fleet
885 Sir Samuel Kelly 1950 J. Samuel White 1950–1976 Donaghadee 1972
2x70bhp Ford Mermaid 595
Sold in 1980. By December 2022 it was on display /and undergoing restoration at Donaghadee in Northern Ireland.
1976–1979 Relief fleet
886 Sarah Townsend Porritt 1951 Sussex Yacht Co. 1951–1978 Lytham St Annes 1971
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold October 1982. Renamed Sarah. Reported in December 2023 to be under restoration at Hayle, Cornwall.
1978–1981 Relief fleet
887 Sir Godfrey Baring 1951 J. Samuel White 1952–1968
Clacton-on-Sea 1972
2x70bhp Ford Mermaid 595
Sold July 1986. Renamed Sir Baring. In June 2012 it was working as a trip boat, Friedburg, Germany.[clarification needed]
1968–1970 Wick
1970–1972 Relief fleet
1972–1982 Workington
1982–1986 Relief fleet
888 North Foreland
(Civil Service No.11)
1951 J. Samuel White 1951–1978 Margate No On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard since April 1996.[2]
1978–1981 Relief fleet
896 Douglas Hyde 1952 Camper and Nicholsons 1952–1969 Rosslare Harbour 1970
2x70bhp Watermota Sea Lion
Sold February 1973. Scrapped at Peel, Isle of Man by 2018.
1970–1972 Dunmore East
900 Herbert Leigh 1951 J. Samuel White 1951–1982 Barrow 1977
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold in 1989. On display at the Dock Museum, Barrow-in-Furness, since 1994.
1983–1988 Relief fleet
901 Michael and Lily Davis 1953 J. Samuel White 1953–1976 Ramsgate No Sold in 1979. Renamed Coastal Waters. Reported in December 2021 to be pleasure boat at Swansea Marina.
1976–1979 Relief fleet
908 Duchess of Kent 1954 Groves & Guttridge 1954–1970 Fraserburgh 1965
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda
Capsized on service 21 January 1970, five crew lost. Broken up October 1970.
910 Edian Courtauld 1953 J. Samuel White 1953–1977 Walton and Frinton 1967
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda
Sold August 1981. Reported in August 2021 as pleasure boat Iris B at Fisherman's Quay, Cardiff.
1977–1981 Relief fleet
911 City of Bradford III 1954 J. Samuel White 1954–1977 Humber 1968
2x65bhp Parsons Barracuda
Sold August 1985. Reported in December 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat in Salcombe, Devon.
1978–1985 Lytham St Annes
919 Deneys Reitz 1954 Groves & Guttridge 1954–1980 Fowey 1970– 2x70bhp Watermota Sea Lion Sold September 1980. By August 2018 in Södermanland, Sweden.[3]
921 Greater London II
(Civil Service No.30)
1955 Groves & Guttridge 1955–1976 Southend-on-Sea 1969
2x70bhp Watermota Sea Lion
Sold in 1991. Renamed Gallichan.Reported in July 2021 in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat at Portland Marina.
1977–1989 Beaumaris
925 Henry Comber Brown 1955 J. Samuel White 1955–1986 Tenby 1969
2x70bhp Watermota Sea Lion
Sold in 1987. Reported in December 2021 in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat in Ramsey, Isle of Man.
926 Guy and Clare Hunter 1955 J. Samuel White 1955–1981 St Mary's 1972
2x70bhp Ford Mermaid 595
Sold June 1988. Reported in December 2022 in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat at Quinton Nelson Yard, Donaghadee, Northern Ireland.
1981–1982 Fowey
1982–1983 Penlee
1983–1984 Padstow
1984–1985 Cromer
1985–1987 Relief fleet
928 Lilla Marras, Douglas and Will 1955 Groves & Guttridge 1955–1968 Cromarty 1978
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold October 1982. Reported in December 2022 in use as B&B on The Noorderhaven, Netherlands.
1968–1974 Falmouth
1974–1978 Relief fleet
1978–1979 Donaghadee
1979–1982 Relief fleet
929 R.A. Colby Cubbin No.1 1956 J. Samuel White 1956–1988 Douglas 1979
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold in 1989. By November 2017 was being broken up for spares in Bezons, Ile-de-Paris
930 R.A. Colby Cubbin No.2 1956 J. Samuel White 1956–1976 Port St Mary No Sold October 1977. Renamed Southport Girl. In December 2022 was reported under restoration as a pleasure boat, under restoration at Port Penrhyn, Wales.[4]
1976–1977 Relief fleet
931 Richard Vernon and Mary Garforth of Leeds 1956 J. Samuel White 1957–1987 Angle 1980
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold in 1989. Reported in September 2022 in unaltered condition and working as a pleasure boat in Wexford, Ireland.
1987–1988 Wicklow
932 Howard Marryat 1956 J. Samuel White 1957–1981 Fishguard 1982
2x70bhp Ford Thorneycroft 380
Sold September 1989. Renamed Josef de Waey. By December 2020 it was working (in unaltered condition) as a pleasure boat in Blankenberge, Belgium.
1982–1986 Barrow
1986–1988 Moelfre
1988–1989 Relief fleet

References

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  1. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  2. ^ "RNLB North Foreland. Civil Service No 11". 100 Objects that made Kent. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  3. ^ "The Adventures of ex-Lifeboat "Deneys Reitz"". Ex-Lifeboat “Deneys Reitz”.
  4. ^ "Colby Cubbins No 2". National Historic Ship Register. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
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