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Ramsgate-class lifeboat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Class overview
NameRamsgate-class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byNorfolk and Suffolk-class
Succeeded by46ft 9in Watson-class
Cost£8,500
Built1925–1928
In service1925–1955
Completed3
Retired3
General characteristics
Displacement21–23 tons
Length
  • ON 697: 48 ft (15 m)
  • ON 704/5: 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam13 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
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph)
Crew9

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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.
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