RNLB Grace Darling
The Liverpool-class, designed by James Barnett, was derived from the 35 ft 6 in Self-righting motor-class and had many similarities with it. Lifeboatmen at many stations preferred non-self-righting boats due to their better stability and the Liverpool-class was designed to be light enough for carriage launching at these stations.
A single-engined version entered service in 1932 and was powered by an RNLI designed, Weyburn Engineering built AE6 six-cylinder 35 hp petrol engine mounted in a watertight compartment. Like all early motor lifeboats, the Liverpool-class carried an auxiliary sailing rig and had a drop keel just forward of the engine room. 28 boats were built between 1931 and 1941.
The introduction of tractors to assist with carriage launching enabled the RNLI to consider a heavier, twin-engined version of the Liverpool-class and a prototype was ordered but it was destroyed in an air raid at the builder's yard at Cowes in May 1942. Production got underway early in 1945 and the boat was powered by two 18 hp Weyburn AE4 four-cylinder petrol engines mounted in a watertight compartment. The extra redundancy of twin engines reduced the need for auxiliary sails. 31 boats were built between 1945 and 1954, the last 21 of which were powered by 20 hp Ferry Kadenacy FKR3 diesels.
The 8-ton Liverpool-class could achieve a speed of 7.5 kt. They had a range of 220 km and carried a crew of seven.
Like all but two of the 32 later twin-screw variants, the last of the class, Grace Darling (above) was built by Groves & Guttridge at their yard at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. From completion in 1954, she initially served at North Sunderland until 1967 when she was placed in the RNLI's reserve fleet. In 1971 she became operational again at Youghal, County Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, serving there until she was retired in 1984. During her career, she was launched operationally 106 times and saved 34 lives.
Now part of the National Register of Historic Vessels, Grace Darling can be seen in the Covered Halls at Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent.
RNLB Grace Darling
The Liverpool-class, designed by James Barnett, was derived from the 35 ft 6 in Self-righting motor-class and had many similarities with it. Lifeboatmen at many stations preferred non-self-righting boats due to their better stability and the Liverpool-class was designed to be light enough for carriage launching at these stations.
A single-engined version entered service in 1932 and was powered by an RNLI designed, Weyburn Engineering built AE6 six-cylinder 35 hp petrol engine mounted in a watertight compartment. Like all early motor lifeboats, the Liverpool-class carried an auxiliary sailing rig and had a drop keel just forward of the engine room. 28 boats were built between 1931 and 1941.
The introduction of tractors to assist with carriage launching enabled the RNLI to consider a heavier, twin-engined version of the Liverpool-class and a prototype was ordered but it was destroyed in an air raid at the builder's yard at Cowes in May 1942. Production got underway early in 1945 and the boat was powered by two 18 hp Weyburn AE4 four-cylinder petrol engines mounted in a watertight compartment. The extra redundancy of twin engines reduced the need for auxiliary sails. 31 boats were built between 1945 and 1954, the last 21 of which were powered by 20 hp Ferry Kadenacy FKR3 diesels.
The 8-ton Liverpool-class could achieve a speed of 7.5 kt. They had a range of 220 km and carried a crew of seven.
Like all but two of the 32 later twin-screw variants, the last of the class, Grace Darling (above) was built by Groves & Guttridge at their yard at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. From completion in 1954, she initially served at North Sunderland until 1967 when she was placed in the RNLI's reserve fleet. In 1971 she became operational again at Youghal, County Cork, in the Republic of Ireland, serving there until she was retired in 1984. During her career, she was launched operationally 106 times and saved 34 lives.
Now part of the National Register of Historic Vessels, Grace Darling can be seen in the Covered Halls at Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent.