Privately owned former Rother-class lifeboat Ex RNLB Harold Salvesen departing Donaghadee
Class overview
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byOakley
Succeeded byMersey
Built1972–1982
In service1973–1993
Completed14
Retired14
General characteristics
Displacement13 tons
Length37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Beam11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draught3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)
Propulsion2 x 52 hp Ford Thornycroft 250 diesels
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph)
Range180 nautical miles (330 km)
Complement7

The Rother-class lifeboat was a self-righting lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1972 and 1995. They were based on the 37 ft (11 m) Oakley-class lifeboat.[1]

History

The Rother-class was the final displacement hull lifeboat produced by the RNLI. As a result of the decision to have fast lifeboats at all all-weather stations they had a shorter than usual career and none of the 14 built reached 20 years service. The 1982 built RNLB James Cable (ON 1068) was the last displacement hull boat in RNLI service when withdrawn from Aldeburgh in December 1993.

Design

The Rother-class was a development of the 37 ft (11 m) Oakley boat, like its predecessor primarily intended for carriage launching, although 6 of the 14 went to slipway stations. A major change was the abandonment of the Oakley's complicated water ballast self-righting system. The Rother achieved its self-righting ability from its extended watertight superstructure and all had an enclosed wheelhouse with the radar mounted on the roof. Twin 52 hp Ford Thorneycroft 250 four-cylinder diesels gave a maximum speed of 8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h) and at this speed the range was around 180 nautical miles (210 mi; 330 km). The boats built for Walmer and Aldeburgh had strengthed hulls for beach launching over skids.

Fleet

Note: Op No's 37-01 to 37-26 were allocated to Oakley-class lifeboats

ON[lower-alpha 1] Op. No.[lower-alpha 2] Name Built In service[2] Principal Station Launching method Comments[2]
998 37-27 Osman Gabriel 1972 1973–1992
1992–1993		 Port Erin
Relief fleet		 Slipway

 Sold March 1993.
Renamed Anita, Pleasure boat at Dirhami Harbour, Estonia. Not seen since 2014
999 37-28 Diana White 1973 1973–1991 Sennen Cove Slipway Sold 1992.
Named Joseph Day.
February 2017, awaiting restoration, as Diana White, on a farm at Mangatangi, NZ.
1000 37-29 Mary Gabriel 1973 1974–1990
1990–1992		 Hoylake
Rhyl		 Carriage
Carriage		 Sold October 1992.
December 2022, Trip boat at Scarborough
1022 37-30 Harold Salvesen 1973 1974–1986
1986–1992
1992		 Amble
Relief fleet
Rhyl		 Afloat

Carriage		 Sold October 1992.
July 2019, Pleasure Boat, Burton on the River Cleddau, Pembrokeshire
1023 37-31 J. Reginald Corah 1974 1975–1992 Swanage Slipway Sold June 1995.
June 2022, Renamed Louise 2-G-B-H, Pleasure Boat, Guldborg, Denmark
1024 37-32 The Hampshire Rose 1974 1975–1990
1990–1991
1991
1991–1992		 Walmer
Relief fleet
Anstruther
Relief fleet		 Beach

Afloat

 Sold October 1992.
December 2022, Charter boat doing lifeboat trips, Ilfracombe, Devon
1046 37-33 Silver Jubilee (Civil Service No. 38) 1977 1978–1991
1991–1993		 Margate
Relief fleet		 Carriage

 Sold March 1994.
March 2022, Unaltered as a pleasure boat, Yonkers Yacht Club, River Hudson, New York, US
1047 37-34 Horace Clarkson 1977 1977–1987
1987–1993		 Moelfre
Relief fleet		 Slipway

 Sold May 1993.
December 2022, Unaltered pleasure boat, Wells-next-the-Sea
1048 37-35 Alice Upjohn 1976 1977–1992
1992–1995		 Dungeness
Relief fleet		 Carriage

 Sold 1995. Ivan Talley Rescue, Greymouth, NZ.
September 2019, Pleasure Boat as Alice Upjohn at Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, NZ.
1054 37-36 Shoreline 1979 1979–1982
1982–1993		 Blyth
Arbroath		 Slipway
Slipway		 Sold February 1994. Named Porta Maggie, later Mairi Bhan.
April 2023, Pleasure Boat at Thomas Telford Corpach Marina & Slipway Fort William.
1055 37-37 Duke of Kent 1982 1979–1993 Eastbourne Slipway Sold June 1995. Survey Boat at Tayport Harbour.
Returned to Eastbourne in 2017 and now standing near the Inshore Lifeboat station awaiting restoration.
1063 37-38 Princess of Wales 1982 1982–1992
1992–1993		 Barmouth
Relief fleet		 Carriage

 Sold May 1993. Renamed Glow-worm.
May 2022, Pleasure boat stored at Portraine, Swords, Dublin.
1064 37-39 The Davys Family 1981 1981–1994
1986–1993		 Shoreham Harbour
Relief fleet		 Slipway

 Sold July 1995.
Renamed The Mary Heather, ashore as a Holiday Let, Argyll Kayaker Cove, Cuan Sound, Isle of Seil.
1068 37-40 James Cable 1982 1982–1993 Aldeburgh Beach Sold August 1994. Renamed ADES 13 Agustin Carlevaro, with ADES Uruguay.
April 2015, Workboat Nauti II at Montevideo.
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References

  1. ↑ "Rother class lifeboat". Lifeboats Online. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
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