Solent-class lifeboat

Class overview
Builders	Groves & Guttridge, Cowes Camper & Nicholson, Gosport
Operators	RNLI
Preceded by	Watson
Succeeded by	Tyne
Built	1969–1973
In service	1969–1993
Completed	11
Retired	11
General characteristics
Type	motor lifeboat
Displacement	27 tons
Length	48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam	14 ft (4.3 m)
Draught	4 ft 8 in (1.42 m)
Propulsion	2 x 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines
Speed	9.5 knots (10.9 mph)
Range	150 nautical miles (280 km)
Crew	7

The Solent-class lifeboat is a steel-hulled version of the 48ft 6in Oakley-class self-righting lifeboat and is sometimes referred to as the 48’6”Oakley Mark III. Solent Operational Numbers followed on from the first three 48ft 6in Oakleys and were interrupted by the last two Oakleys (48-12 and 48-13). The operational numbers of the Solent-class had three digits in the suffix to indicate a metal hull (as with Clyde, Waveney, Thames, Tyne classes, one Arun class and the first eleven Merseys). Two digits indicates a wooden, GRP or FRC hull.

Description

Apart from the steel hull the principal difference to the wooden hulled Oakley was the elimination of the complicated water ballast self-righting system; the Solent derived its self-righting capability from its watertight superstructure. The class was the last design of the traditional displacement-type lifeboat to come from the drawing boards of the RNLI. There were (unofficial) Mark I and Mark II versions of the class, the first eight boats having a vertical steering wheel with wheelhouse access via sliding doors at the forward end of the wheelhouse on each side, while the last three has a seated steering position with hinged wheelhouse doors at the after end of the wheelhouse. The Mark II entered service in 1972. The first four boats (ON 1007-1010) and the last three (ON 1019-1021) were built at Cowes by Groves & Guttridge. The second four (ON 1011-1014) were built at Gosport by Camper & Nicholson.

Propulsion

The Solent was powered by twin 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines which gave the boat a top speed of 9.5 knots (10.9 mph). There were twin spade rudders installed which were coupled to Mathway manual steering gear which gave this class a much better manoeuvrability than earlier classes of lifeboats.

Fleet

ON	Op. No.	Name	Built	In service	Principal Station	Disposal
1007	48-004	George Urie Scott	1969	1969–1978 1979–1984 1985–1989	Lochinver Rosslare Harbour Lochinver	Sold in 1990, currently in Holland
1008	48-005	James and Mariska Joicey	1969	1969–1986 1987–1988 1988–1989	Peterhead The Lizard Relief fleet	Sold in 1990, currently in Northern Ireland
1009	48-006	Jack Shayler and the Lees	1970	1970–1987 1988–1993	Bembridge Relief fleet	Sold June 1994, currently at Tallinn, Estonia
1010	48-007	David and Elizabeth King and E.B.	1970	1970–1988 1988–1989	Longhope Invergordon	Sold in 1990, currently in Scotland
1011	48-008	R. Hope Roberts	1969	1969–1979 1979–1985 1985–1987 1987–1993	Rosslare Harbour Fraserburgh Galway Bay Coutmacsherry Harbour	Sold in 1993, currently in Australia
1012	48-009	City of Birmingham	1970	1970–1983 1984–1993	Exmouth Walton and Frinton	Sold to Uruguay July 1995
1013	48-010	The Royal British Legion Jubilee	1970	1970–1979 1979 1979–1986 1986–1988 1988–1989	Relief Fleet Fraserburgh Relief fleet Peterhead Relief fleet	Sold April 1990, currently in England
1014	48-011	The Three Sisters	1970	1970–1988 1988–1989	Thurso Wicklow	Sold April 1990, currently in England
1019	48-014	Lady MacRobert	1972	1972–1989 1989–1993	Montrose Relief fleet	Sold to Uruguay March 1994
1020	48-015	Hugh William Viscount Gough	1973	1973–1984 1984–1988 1988–1993	Stornoway Barra Island Dunbar	Sold September 1993
1021	48-016	Douglas Currie	1973	1973–1974 1974–1975 1975–1984 1985 1986–1989 1990–1992	Relief fleet Kirkwall Macduff Fraserburgh Portpatrick Workington	Sold in 1992, currently in Scotland