Ramsgate-class lifeboat

Class overview
Name	Ramsgate-class
Builders	S. E. Saunders, Cowes; J. Samuel White, Cowes;
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution; ADES Uruguay; Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile;
Preceded by	Norfolk and Suffolk-class
Succeeded by	46ft 9in Watson-class
Cost	£8,500
Built	1925–1928
In service	1925–1955
Completed	3
Retired	3
General characteristics
Displacement	21–23 tons
Length	ON 697: 48 ft (15 m); ON 704/5: 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m);
Beam	13 ft (4.0 m)
Propulsion	ON 697: 1 x 80 bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol; ON 704/5: 2 x 40 bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol;
Speed	8 knots (9.2 mph)
Crew	9

The Ramsgate-class motor lifeboat was a special design produced by the RNLI for three stations covering the Thames estuary and required to operate in shallow waters.

History

Designed at a time when the RNLI was happy to build special boats for the particular needs of individual stations, the Ramsgate-class (named after the first station to operate one) was essentially an amalgam of Norfolk and Suffolk and Watson design principles intended for the shallow waters of the Thames estuary. The first boat, RNLB Prudential (ON 697), was 48 feet (15 m) long and single engined. The other two were 6 inches (15 cm) longer and twin engined. All three had long careers at their respective stations but when they were replaced between 1953 and 1955, it was with standard 46ft 9in Watson boats.

Description

The first Ramsgate was an open design with no cockpits and low end boxes. Powered by a single 80 bhp Weyburn built DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine driving a single screw, the boat retained an auxiliary sailing rig as well as six oars. The other two boats were substantially redesigned, being six inches (15 cm) longer and powered by two 40 bhp Weyburn built CE4 4-cylinder petrol engines driving twin screws. The sailing rig was much reduced and the boats had a shelter ahead of the cockpit covering the engine controls. Just ahead of this was a funnel for engine exhaust.

Fleet

ON^[a]	Name	Built	Builder	In service^[1]	Stations	Comments^[1]
697	Prudential	1925	S. E. Saunders	1925–1953	Ramsgate	Sold November 1953. Reported in May 2022 to be at Ipswich Haven Marina carrying the name Trimilia.^[2]
704	Greater London (Civil Service No.3)	1928	J. Samuel White	1928–1941	Southend-on-Sea	Sold September 1957 to ADES Uruguay and renamed ADES 1 Francisco Alvarez.^[3] By December 2022 was in storage at Carmelo, Uruguay.
				1941–1945	Reserve fleet
				1945–1955	Southend-on-Sea
				1955–1957	Reserve fleet
705	E.M.E.D.	1928	J. Samuel White	1928–1953	Walton and Frinton	Sold January 1956. Renamed Capitán Christiansen when in service at Valparaiso, Chile. By April 2019 was on display near Muelle Barón, Valparaiso.^[4]
705	E.M.E.D.	1928	J. Samuel White	1953–1955	Reserve fleet

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

References

^ ^a ^b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
^ "Trimilia". Retrieved 14 January 2018.
^ "Greater London (Civil Service No. 3), Southend-on-Sea". RNLI. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
^ "The Capitán Christiansen at Muelle Barón". Robert Cutts. Retrieved 25 August 2009.

External links

RNLI

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

[LBES-2] Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.

[Trimilia-3] "Trimilia". Retrieved 14 January 2018.

[CS30-4] "Greater London (Civil Service No. 3), Southend-on-Sea". RNLI. Retrieved 25 December 2023.

[ON_705-5] "The Capitán Christiansen at Muelle Barón". Robert Cutts. Retrieved 25 August 2009.

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