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]

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

History

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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 The 1982 built RNLB James Cable (ON 1068) was the last displacement hull boat in RNLI service when withdrawn from Aldeburgh in December 1993.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

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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

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Note: Op No.s 37-01 to 37-26 were allocated to Oakley-class lifeboats, the Rother-class continuing the series from 37-27.

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built In service[2] Station Launching method Comments[2]
998 37-27 Osman Gabriel 1972 1973–1992 Port Erin Slipway Sold March 1993. Renamed Anita, last seen in 2014 working as a pleasure boat at Dirhami, Estonia.
1992–1993 Relief fleet
999 37-28 Diana White 1973 1973–1991 Sennen Cove Slipway Sold 1992. Renamed Joseph Day but by February 2017 it was awaiting restoration as Diana White on a farm at Mangatangi, New Zealand.
1000 37-29 Mary Gabriel 1973 1974–1990 Hoylake Carriage Sold October 1992. Reported in December 2022 as being a trip boat at Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
1990–1992 Rhyl Carriage
1022 37-30 Harold Salvesen 1973 1974–1986 Amble Afloat Sold October 1992. Reported in July 2019 to be working as a pleasure Boat at Burton, Pembrokeshire.
1986–1992 Relief fleet
1992 Rhyl Carriage
1023 37-31 J. Reginald Corah 1974 1975–1992 Swanage Slipway Sold June 1995. By June 2022 it had been renamed Louise 2-G-B-H and was operating as a pleasure boat at Guldborg in Denmark.
1024 37-32 The Hampshire Rose 1974 1975–1990 Walmer Beach Sold October 1992. Reported in December 2022 to be a charter boat doing lifeboat trips at Ilfracombe in Devon.
1990–1991 Relief fleet
1991 Anstruther Afloat
1991–1992 Relief fleet
1046 37-33 Silver Jubilee
(Civil Service No. 38)
1977 1978–1991 Margate Carriage Sold March 1994. Reported in March 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat at Yonkers, New York.
1991–1993 Relief fleet
1047 37-34 Horace Clarkson 1977 1977–1987 Moelfre Slipway Sold May 1993. In December 2022 it was reported to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat at Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk.
1987–1993 Relief fleet
1048 37-35 Alice Upjohn 1976 1977–1992 Dungeness Carriage Sold 1995 to Ivan Talley Rescue in Greymouth, New Zealand. By September 2019 it was working as the pleasure boat Alice Upjohn at Queenstown, New Zealand.
1992–1995 Relief fleet
1054 37-36 Shoreline 1979 1979–1982 Blyth Slipway Sold February 1994. Renamed Porta Maggie, later Mairi Bhan. Reported in April 2023 to be working as a pleasure boat at Corpach in Scotland.
1982–1993 Arbroath Slipway
1055 37-37 Duke of Kent 1982 1979–1993 Eastbourne Slipway Sold June 1995. It was working as a survey boat at Tayport in Scotland Harbour but returned to Eastbourne in 2017 for restoration, standing near the Inshore Lifeboat Station.
1063 37-38 Princess of Wales 1982 1982–1992 Barmouth Carriage Sold May 1993. Renamed Glow-worm. Reported in May 2022 to be a pleasure boat stored at Portraine in Ireland.
1992–1993 Relief fleet
1064 37-39 The Davys Family 1981 1981–1986 Shoreham Harbour Slipway Sold July 1995. Renamed The Mary Heather, seen ashore as a holiday let on the Cuan Sound, Seil in Scotland.
1986–1993 Relief fleet
1068 37-40 James Cable 1982 1982–1993 Aldeburgh Beach Sold August 1994 for further use as a lifeboat in Uruguay, renamed ADES 13 Agustin Carlevaro. By April 2015 it was a workboat named 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

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