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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]
1953–1955  | Reserve fleet

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

## References

[edit]

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

## External links

[edit]

* RNLI

* v
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Classes of Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

Operational fleet

All-weather lifeboats|

* Mersey
* Severn
* Shannon
* Tamar
* Trent

Inshore lifeboats|

* B-class: Atlantic 85
* D-class: IB1
* E-class: Mark II
* Mark III
* H-class (Hovercraft)

Small inflatables|

* Arancia
* X-class
* XP-class
* Y-class

Historic lifeboats

Pulling and sailing lifeboats|

* Cromer
* Greathead
* Liverpool
* Norfolk and Suffolk
* Palmer
* Peake
* Plenty
* Watson

All-weather motor lifeboats|

| Up to 10 knots|

* 35ft 6in Self-righting
* Barnett
* Harbour
* Liverpool
* Norfolk and Suffolk
* Oakley
* Ramsgate
* Rother
* Solent
* Steam
* Surf
* Watson

|

Above 10 knots|

* Arun
* Brede
* Clyde
* Dover (1930)
* Thames
* Tyne
* Waveney

Inshore lifeboats|

* A-class: Hatch
* McLachlan
* Boston Whaler
* B-class: Atlantic 21
* Atlantic 75
* C-class: Zodiac IV
* D-class: RFD PB16
* RFD 320
* Avon S650
* Dunlop
* EA16
* Humber
* Zodiac III
* E-class: Mark I

Experimental lifeboats|

* Keith Nelson
* Medina

Royal National Lifeboat Institution
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