Watson-class lifeboat

The term Watson-class lifeboat refers to several wooden lifeboat classes operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1888 and 1991. The boats had hulls that conformed to the basic design laid down by RNLI naval architect George Lennox Watson.

45ft 6in Watson RNLB Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) (ON 688)
Class overview
Builders:	Various
Operators:	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Built:	1888–1963
In service:	1888–1991
Completed:	213

History

During the late Victorian period, the vast majority of lifeboats in service with the RNLI were of the self-righting type. The disadvantage of the self-righters was their lack of stability and to meet the requirements of stations which preferred the stability of a non self-righting type G.L. Watson conceived the hull type that bore his name. The first Watson, RNLB Edith and Annie (ON 208), was built in 1888 and was 42 ft 3in long. Over the next 27 years, 42 Watson-class pulling and sailing types were built at a variety of lengths, the commonest being the 38 footer.

In 1904 the RNLI began experimenting with motor lifeboats when a 38 ft Self-righter was converted. In 1906 three other lifeboats were converted to motor but none of these was a Watson. However, when in 1908 the first new build motor lifeboats were constructed, two of them were Watson types. Over the next 55 years, 171 boats of the various Watson-classes were built. There was, of course, no connection between a 1908 40 ft Watson and a 1963 47 ft Watson other than a similarity in basic hull form.

There were 11 lengths of boat in 8 separate classes:

Length	Build range	No. built
38 ft 40 ft 40 ft 6in 43 ft	1908–1930	15
45 ft	1912–1925	22
45 ft 6in	1926–1935	23
41 ft	1933–1952	13
46 ft	1936–1946	28
46 ft 9in	1947–1956	28
42 ft	1954–1962	10
47 ft	1955–1963	18

Fleet

38-43ft Watson-class

The first Watson motor lifeboats were based on the most common pulling and sailing hulls, the 38 ft, 40 ft and 43 ft types. Apart from the addition of an engine and propeller, there was little to distinguish them from their sail and oar powered predecessors. The engines in the early motor types were regarded almost as an auxiliary and the boats, which had an open deck with end boxes, retained sails and oars. Engines from Tylor, Blake and Wolseley were used, although the Tylor was the most satisfactory and the two Blake engined boats were re-engined with Tylors in 1914. Power output of the Tylors was 40 bhp which gave a speed of around seven knots.

ON[lower-alpha 1]	Name	Built	Builder	Length	Beam	In service	Stations	Comments
560	Maria	1908	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	40 ft	11 ft	1910–1921 1922–1929 1930–1931 1931	Broughty Ferry Portpatrick Pwllheli Shoreham Harbour	Sold in 1932
565	John Ryburn	1908	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	43 ft	12 ft 6in	1909–1915 1915–1920 1921–1935	Stronsay Peterhead No.2 Broughty Ferry	Sold February 1935
	Charles Deere James	1909[1]	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	38 ft	9 ft 4in	1909–1920	St Agnes	Unknown
595	William and Laura	1910	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	43 ft	12 ft 6in	1910–1932 1932–1935	Donaghadee Arranmore	Sold in 1935
602	Elliot Galer	1910	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	38 ft	10 ft	1911–1936	Seaham Harbour	Sold in 1936
603	Helen Smitton	1910	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	38 ft	10 ft	1911–1936	St Abbs	Sold in 1936
620	William MacPherson	1912	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	43 ft	12 ft 6in	1912–1929 1930 1931–1940	Campbeltown Aldeburgh No.2 Pwllheli	Sold September 1940
621	Frederick Kitchen	1913	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	43 ft	12 ft 6in	1914–1945 1945–1948	Beaumaris Reserve fleet	Sold in 1948
622	Alexander Tulloch	1912	Thames Iron Works, Blackwall	43 ft	12 ft 6in	1912–1914	Peterhead No.2	Wrecked on service 26/12/1914, three crew lost
651	Samuel Oakes	1918	Summers & Payne, Southampton/ S.E. Saunders, Cowes	40 ft	11 ft	1919–1923 1924–1929 1929–1933	Humber Weymouth Shoreham Harbour	Sold January 1933
677	Prince David	1922	J. Samuel White, Cowes	40 ft	11 ft	1922–1937	Barry Dock	Sold December 1937
691	K.B.M.	1922	J. Samuel White, Cowes	40 ft	11 ft	1922–1949 1949–1952	Buckie Reserve fleet	Sold September 1952

1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

45ft Watson-class

The first standard class of Watson motor, began with the conversion of a pulling and sailing boat in 1912. Production began in 1919 and 22 boats were built between then and 1925.

45ft 6in Watson-class

The 45 ft 6in Watson marked the transition from single engine to twin engine layout. The first two boats were single engined, but the rest were twins. Produced between 1926 and 1935, 23 were built.

40ft 6in Watson-class

This small series of single engine boats built in 1929-30 was the precursor of the twin engine 41 ft type of 1933, which had a hull of the same 11 ft 8in beam but six inches longer. The boats resembled scaled down versions of the contemporary 45 ft 6in type, with a small shelter ahead of the aft cockpit with the exhaust funnel in front of it. All were built by J. Samuel White at Cowes and were powered by a 50 bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cylinder petrol engine driving a single screw. They served until the mid 1950s when they were replaced at their respective stations by new 42ft Watson class boats.

ON[lower-alpha 1]	Name	Built	In Service	Stations	Comments
721	Lady Kylsant	1929	1929–1930 1930–1937 1937–1956	Weymouth Howth Wicklow	Sold in 1956
722	J. and W.	1929	1929–1937 1937–1940 1940–1957	Portpatrick Reserve fleet Berwick	Sold May 1957
723	Sir David Richmond of Glasgow	1929	1929–1955	Troon	Sold June 1956
724	G.W.	1930	1930–1956	Moelfre	Sold May 1956

1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

41ft Watson-class

The first twin engined medium-sized Watson class intended for stations unable to accommodate the larger types. Thirteen were built, nine between 1933 and 1939 and a further four between 1948 and 1952.

46ft Watson-class

The next development of the large Watson saw the introduction of diesel engines. Four of the first five were petrol engined, the fourth was the first new build diesel engined lifeboat for the RNLI and the remainder followed suit. Twenty eight boats were built, not including two destroyed whilst under construction in an air raid on Groves & Guttridge's yard at Cowes. Production ran from 1936 to 1946.

46ft 9in Watson-class

The first post-war Watson type, the first five resembled the 46 ft type, but from 1948 a major redesign resulted in a new superstructure with midships steering and a large cabin aft. Twenty eight were built between 1947 and 1956.

42ft Watson-class

Like the 41 ft type intended for stations unable to accommodate larger types but needing something bigger than a carriage launched type, the 42 ft Watson introduced the use of commercial diesel engines rather than the RNLI's own designs. Ten were built between 1954 and 1962

47ft Watson-class

The final incarnation of the Watson inspired hull, the 47 ft Watson was the last non self-righting class built for the RNLI other than the 70 ft Clyde-class cruising boats. They were the first type to have an enclosed wheelhouse (other than the unique "fast" lifeboat of 1929). The first was built in 1955, but full production began in 1957 and continued to 1963 with eighteen built.

References

1. "New Lifeboat for Scilly". Cornishman. Truro. 29 July 1909. Retrieved 28 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.