Rother-class lifeboat

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 Oakley-class lifeboat.[1]

Privately owned former Rother-class lifeboat Ex RNLB Harold Salvesen departing Donaghadee
Class overview
Builders:
Operators: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by: Oakley
Succeeded by: Mersey
Built: 1972–1982
In service: 1973–1993
Completed: 14
Retired: 14
General characteristics
Displacement: 13 tons
Length: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Beam: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draught: 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)
Propulsion: 2 x 52 hp Ford Thornycroft 250 diesels
Speed: 8 knots (9.2 mph)
Range: 180 nautical miles (330 km)
Complement: 7

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 The 1982 built RNLB James Cable (ON 1068) was the last displacement hull boat in RNLI service when withdrawn from Aldeburgh in December 1993.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 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) and at this speed the range was around 180 nautical miles. 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 Principal Station Launching method Further use[2]
998 37-27 Osman Gabriel 1972 1973–1992 Port Erin Slipway Sold March 1993
999 37-28 Diana White 1973 1973–1991 Sennen Cove Slipway Sold 1992. Named Joseph Day in Tauranga, NZ.
1000 37-29 Mary Gabriel 1973 1974–1990
1990–1992		 Hoylake
Rhyl		 Carriage
Carriage		 Sold October 1992
1022 37-30 Harold Salvesen 1973 1974–1986
1986–1992		 Amble
Relief fleet		 Afloat
--		 Sold October 1992
1023 37-31 J. Reginald Corah 1974 1975–1992 Swanage Slipway Sold June 1995
1024 37-32 The Hampshire Rose 1974 1975–1990
1990–1992		 Walmer
Relief fleet Amstruthe & Swanage		 Beach
--		 Sold October 1992. 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
1047 37-34 Horace Clarkson 1977 1977–1987
1987–1993		 Moelfre
Relief fleet		 Slipway
--		 Sold May 1993
1048 37-35 Alice Upjohn 1976 1977–1992
1992–1993		 Dungeness
Relief fleet		 Carriage
--		 Sold 1995. Ivan Talley Rescue, Greymouth, New Zealand. Into private hands as Alice Upjohn at Lyttelton, NZ.
1054 37-36 Shoreline 1979 1979–1982
1982–1993		 Blyth
Arbroath		 Slipway
Slipway		 Sold February 1994
1055 37-37 Duke of Kent 1982 1979–1993 Eastbourne Slipway Sold June 1995. Survey Boat Tayport harbour.
1063 37-38 Princess of Wales 1982 1982–1992
1992–1993		 Barmouth
Relief fleet		 Carriage
--		 Sold May 1993
1064 37-39 The Davys Family 1981 1981–1994
1986–1993		 Shoreham Harbour
Relief fleet		 Slipway
--		 Sold July 1995
1068 37-40 James Cable 1982 1982–1993 Aldeburgh Beach Sold August 1994. To ADES 13, Uruguay
  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. Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 22–27.
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