C-class lifeboat (Zodiac Grand Raid IV)

A C-class lifeboat usually refers to the Zodiac Grand Raid Mark IVs lifeboats, powered by twin 40 hp outboard motors, manufactured by Zodiac Marine & Pool of France, and which were operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Class overview
NameC-class
BuildersZodiac Marine & Pool, France
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byD-class (RFD PB16)
Succeeded by
General characteristics
Length17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
Beam8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion2 x 40 hp Mariner outboard engines
Speed>26 knots (30 mph)
Complement4

They were initially designated as D-class lifeboats, starting a series of boats numbered from D-500, but this was subsequently changed to C-class, to signify the difference between the twin engine C-class and the single engine D-class.[1]

In 1970, the first lifeboats to be classed as C-class were twin engine RIBs, which were developed to be the Atlantic series lifeboats, and were re-designated B-Class. C-1 was renumbered as B-3, C-2 became B-4 etc.[1]

The C-class Zodiac Grand Raid IV was replaced by both the D-class (EA16) and the B-class (Atlantic 21) inshore lifeboats.[2]

Fleet

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Op. No.[a] Name In Service[1] Station Comments
B-3
(Ex C-1)
Unnamed 1970
1971
Littlestone
Atlantic College
B-4
(Ex C-2)
Unnamed 1971–1974
1974–1976
1978
Helensburgh
Littlestone-on-Sea
Helensburgh
B-5
(Ex C-3)
Unnamed 1972–1974
1976–1978
Littlestone-on-Sea
Helensburgh
B-6
(Ex C-4)
Unnamed 1973
1974–1976
Lymington
Helensburgh
B-7
(Ex C-5)
Unnamed 1974
1981–1984
Helensburgh
Tynemouth Boarding Boat
B-8 Unnamed 1975
1977
Poole
Poole
(D-500) Unnamed 1972–1974
1974–1979
1979–1981
Trials
Minehead
Relief fleet
(D-501) Unnamed Trials only
C-502
(Ex D-502)
John Gilpin 1973–1975
1975–1977
1977–1983
1983–1985
1985–1988
Trials
Silloth
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
C-503
(Ex D-503)
Unnamed 1973–1977
1977–1979
1979–1983
1983–1987
Trials
Silloth
Training fleet
Boarding Boat
C-504
(Ex D-504)
Unnamed 1973–1978
1978–1987
Trials
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
C-505
(Ex D-505)
Unnamed 1979–1986
1986–1987
1987
1987–1989
1990
St Abbs
Red Bay
Relief fleet
Clifden
Arran (Lamlash)
C-506
(Ex D-506)
Unnamed 1980–1986
1987–1988
1988–1993
1993–1997
Portaferry
Arran (Lamlash)
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
C-507
(Ex D-507)
Unnamed 1981–1988
1988–1990
Mudeford
Relief fleet
C-508
(Ex D-508)
The Chris Pirson 1981–1992
1992–1996
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
C-509
(Ex D-509)
Oats 1983–1993
1993–1994
1994–1995
1995–1996
1996–1998
Aberystwyth
Relief fleet
Newquay
Tighnabruaich
Relief fleet
C-510
(Ex D-510)
Unnamed 1983–1991
1991–1995
Criccieth
Relief fleet
C-511
(Ex D-511)
Unnamed 1984–1994
1994–1996
1996–2008
Newquay
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
C-512
(Ex D-512)
Unnamed 1984–1991
1991–1996
Cullercoats
Relief fleet
C-513 Sebag of Jersey 1984–1990
1990–1993
1993
1993–1996
1997–
St Catherine
Relief fleet
Criccieth
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
C-514 Unnamed 1985–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
1998
Kinghorn
Relief fleet
Clifden
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
C-515 Unnamed 1985–1995
1995
St Bees
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
C-516 Belsize Charitable Trust No.1 1986–1995
1995–1996
St Ives
Relief fleet
C-517 Unnamed 1986–1996
1996–1997
1997–2008
Rye Harbour
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
C-518 Unnamed 1987–1997 Cardigan
C-519 Thomas Corbett 1987–1995
1995–1996
1996–1997
Red Bay
Relief fleet
Tighnabruaich
C-520 Unnamed 1988–1996
1996–1999
Relief fleet
Boarding Boat
C-521 Prince of Arran 1988–1998 Arran (Lamlash)
C-522 Unnamed 1989–1997
1997
1998–
Clifden
Boarding Boat
Publicity
C-523 British Diver IV 1990–1991
1991–1993
1993–1994
1994–1995
1995–1996
1996–1998
Relief fleet
Criccieth
Relief fleet
Tighnabruaich
Red Bay
Relief fleet
  1. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ^ Jenkins, David. "Inshore rescue - three miles from the sea!". Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
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