35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class lifeboat

Cyril and Lillian Bishop (ON740) on display at Hastings, 2020
Class overview
Name35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class
Builders
Succeeded byLiverpool-class
Cost£3,000- £14,000
Built
  • Single engine: 1921–1940
  • Twin engine: 1947–1950
In service
  • Single engine: 1921–1963
  • Twin engine: 1947–1965
Completed
  • Single engine: 25
  • Twin engine: 5
Lost2
Retired24
Preserved3
General characteristics
Displacement
  • Single engine: 5–6 long tons (5.1–6.1 t)
  • Twin engine: 8–9 long tons (8.1–9.1 t)
Length35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Beam8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)-9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
Draught2 ft 8 in (0.81 m)
Propulsion
  • Single engine: 35-bhp Weyburn AE6 6-cyl. petrol
  • Twin engine: 18-bhp Weyburn AE4 4-cyl. petrol/20-bhp Ferry FKR.3 3-cyl. diesel
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Crew7/8

The 35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class was a 10.8 m displacement hull lifeboat built in single engine form between 1921 and 1940 and in twin-engined form between 1947 and 1950. The boats were operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1921 and 1965.

History

The need to provide carriage-launched motor lifeboats had first been addressed with the 35 ft (10.7 m) self-righting motor type of 1921. Three of these boats were built and were, to all intents and purposes, pulling and sailing lifeboats, with an auxiliary engine.

The definitive boat for production appeared in 1929, six inches (15 cm) longer and with the same 8 ft 10 in (2.7 m) beam as the second and third 35-foot types. After the first two boats had been put on station, a crash programme of production was instituted in 1931 and twelve boats were produced that year. These gave many stations their first motor lifeboats, but experience proved that stability was lacking and from RNLB Caroline Parsons (ON 763), beam was increased by 5 inches (13 cm). The final two single engine boats saw further beam increases, to 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) and 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m) respectively.

In common with the similar but non-self-righting Liverpool-class, post war production switched to twin-engined versions, but only five were built. The RNLI was increasingly switching to more stable non-self-righting lifeboats, and the single engine 35-foot 6in self-righting motor lifeboats were replaced at most stations by Liverpool-class boats in the early 1950s, after around twenty years service. The twin-engined boats had even shorter lives, three being replaced by a Liverpool-class, and two others by 37 ft (11.3 m) Oakley-class boats, after less than fifteen-years service.[1]

Description

The challenge of producing a motor lifeboat light enough to be manhandled for carriage launching resulted in a boat weighing around 5+1⁄2 long tons (5.6 t). The single RNLI-designed, Weyburn Engineering built AE6 6-cylinder petrol engine produced 35-bhp, and sat in a watertight engine room beneath pent roof access hatches ahead of an aft cockpit shelter, from where the mechanic operated the engine controls. Apart from a small shelter forward, the boats were open. As described above, beam was increased during production in an attempt to improve stability.

After World War II, five twin-engined boats were built which had a beam of 10 ft (3.0 m) and a larger shelter covering the engine room and very similar to the contemporary twin engined Liverpool-class. The first two of these boats were powered by twin 18bhp Weyburn AE4 4-cylinder petrol engines, but the final three had twin 20bhp Ferry FKR3 3-cylinder diesel engines.[2]

Fleet

Single engine

35 ft (11 m) lifeboats

ON[a] Name Built In Service[3] Stations Comments[2][3]
655 Priscilla Macbean 1921 1921–1927 Eastbourne [Note 1] Sold 1934.
Renamed Laurita. Now as Priscilla Macbean at Hastings Shipwreck Museum, December 2025.[4]
1928–1931 Kirkcudbright
1931–1934 Maryport
683 Herbert Joy 1923 1924–1931 Scarborough [Note 2] Sold 1937.
Renamed Swallow. Broken up at Camber Dock, Portsmouth, November 1995.
1931–1937 Relief fleet
703 L. P. and St. Helen 1927 1927–1929 Eastbourne [Note 3] Sold 1949.
Last reported at Morecambe, November 1949.
1929–1931 Relief fleet
1931–1937 Boulmer
1937–1949 Newcastle

Single engine

35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) lifeboats, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 6-cylinder petrol engine

ON[a] Name Built In Service[5] Stations Comments[2][5]
726 City of Nottingham 1929 1930–1936 Hythe [Note 4] Sold 1950.
Renamed Margaret Rose and Dauntless. Restored to original as City of Nottingham, at Lawrenny Quay, Daugleddau estuary, January 2025.[6]
1936–1949 Clovelly
727 Westmorland 1930 1930–1940 Berwick-upon-Tweed [Note 5] Sold June 1951.
Renamed Swallow, owned by Northern Shipbreakers, Peterhead, 1961.
1940–1951 Cullercoats
737 Louisa Polden 1931 1931–1951 Redcar [Note 6] Sold 1951.
Broken up at Stockton-on-Tees in the 1980s.
738 J. H. W. 1931 1931–1939 Lytham St Annes [Note 7] Sold April 1948.
Renamed Follie and later Navette, last seen, Thames area, 1990s.
1939–1947 Padstow No.2
739 Lily Glen – Glasgow 1931 1931–1952 Girvan [Note 8] Sold May 1952.
Renamed Ivy Dale, later Seeker II. Last reported derelict in a field off Harbour Road, Rye, June 2014.
740 Cyril and Lilian Bishop 1931 1931–1950 Hastings [Note 9] Sold November 1950.
Renamed Thekla, later Lindy Lou (CN-182). Restored as Cyril and Lilian Bishop, on permanent display at the Shipwreck Museum, Hastings, December 2025.[7]
741 Morison Watson 1931 1931–1953 Kirkcudbright [Note 10] Sold 1953.
Renamed Scauronian. Broken up at Terregles, Dumfries, August 1998.
742 Herbert Joy II 1931 1931–1951 Scarborough [Note 11] Sold 1951.
Renamed Viking Raumur. Broken up at Acaster Boatyard, York in the 1980s.
743 John and Sarah Eliza Stych 1931 1931–1938 Padstow No.1 [Note 12]
Capsized and wrecked on service, seven crew lost, 23 Jan 1939.
1938–1939 St Ives
744 Laurana Sarah Blunt 1931 1931–1952 Youghal [Note 13] Sold 1952.
Renamed Laurana (UL3). Broken up west of Ullapool, 2005.
745 Lady Harrison 1931 1931–1948 Ramsey [Note 14] Sold 1952.
Renamed Neula, Isle of Skomer and Merch-y-Mor. Destroyed by fire at Husbands Shipyard, Marchwood, Southampton, April 2005.
1949–1951 Aberystwyth
746 William Maynard 1931 1931–1939 Cloughey [Note 15] Sold February 1953.
Renamed Endura. Lost in English Channel off Dungeness, December 1970.
1939–1941 Relief fleet
1941–1948 Ferryside
1948–1949 Whitehills
1949–1953 Relief fleet
747 Stanhope Smart 1931 1931–1947 Bridlington [Note 16] Sold 1951.
Last reported in Liberia, 1951.
1947–1951 Padstow No.2
748 Mary Ann Blunt 1931 1931–1950 Clogherhead [Note 17] Sold 1951.
Last reported with Balbriggan Sea Scouts, 1951.
752 John and William Mudie 1932 1932–1950 Arbroath [Note 18] Sold June 1951.
Renamed Hunting Call, later Sharon. Ashore at Kingholm Quay, Dumfries, August 2025.
756 Civil Service No.4 1932 1932–1948 Whitehills [Note 19]
Damaged beyond economic repair on service, 16 June 1948.
Sold 1948. Renamed M. G. M., later Sandy K. Last reported as a yacht in Newfoundland in 1970.
757 Frederick Angus 1932 1932–1949 Aberystwyth [Note 20] Sold August 1949.
Renamed Yr Ystwyth. Last reported as a damaged yacht, at Oakford, Nr Aberaeron, August 2015.
763 Caroline Parsons 1933 1933–1938 St Ives [Note 21]
Capsized and wrecked on service, 31 January 1938
767 Catherine Harriet Eaton 1933 1933–1953 Exmouth [Note 22] Sold 1953.
Renamed Sharan. Wrecked in Martins Haven Bay, Pembrokeshire, 1976.
768 Thomas and Annie Wade Richards 1933 1933–1953 Llandudno [Note 23] Sold 1953.
Renamed Craiglais, Will Ifan and Dolphin (AB6). Believed to have been broken up at Tranmere, 2003/04.
785 Sir Heath Harrison 1936 1936–1949 Port St Mary [Note 24] Sold January 1956.
Renamed King John III. Last reported as Pilot Boat, Western Dock, Dover, December 1979.
1949–1955 Relief fleet
826 Guide of Dunkirk 1940 1941–1963 Lizard-Cadgwith [Note 25] Sold 1963.
Renamed Girl Guide, later Ex-RNLB Guide of Dunkirk. Previously at Mevagissey Harbour, now under restoration at Reedham, Norfolk, September 2025.[8]

Twin engine

All twin engined lifeboats were 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) long by 10 ft (3.0 m) beam

ON[a] Name Built In service[9] Stations Comments[2][9]
851 Tillie Morrison, Sheffield 1947 1947–1953 Bridlington [Note 26]
Capsized on service at Bridlington on 19 August 1952, one crew member lost.
Sold November 1959. Renamed Imshi and Elizabeth. Restored for display as Tillie Morrison, Sheffield, now in storage at (closed) Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno, April 2024.[10]
1953–1959 Llandudno
878 M. T. C.
(Mechanised Transport Corps) 		1950 1950–1963 Hastings [Note 27] Sold 1964.
Renamed Good Fortune, later John Stuart (BH 211). Derelict in a field at Pinfold Lane, Bridlington, November 2016.
879 E. C. J. R. 1950 1951–1956 Scarborough [Note 28]
Capsized on service with three crew lost, 8 December 1954. Sold March 1963.
Renamed Tyne Trident, later Can-Y-Don (AB 115). Semi-derelict at Loch Harport, Isle of Skye, November 2024.
1956–1963 Relief fleet
880 Isaac and Mary Bolton 1950 1951–1963 Cullercoats [Note 29] Sold 1964.
Renamed R. A. J.. Last reported as Isaac and Mary Bolton at Loosdrecht, Netherlands, August 2025.[11]
881 City of Leeds 1950 1951–1965 Redcar [Note 30] Sold March 1965.
Renamed Sea Llex (LO 283). Last reported at Walney Channel, Barrow-in-Furness, October 1996.
  1. ^ a b c ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

Notes

  1. ^ 35 ft (11 m) x 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) lifeboat, legacy of Mr Macbean, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 15-hp Miller engine, costing £6,623.
  2. ^ 35 ft (11 m) x 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) lifeboat, gift of Mr Joy, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 35-hp Sage engine, costing £3,691.
  3. ^ 35 ft (11 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat costing £4,961, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 30-hp Halford engine. Weyburn AE6 engine fitted, 1930.
  4. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of the City of Nottingham LB fund, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £4,596.
  5. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of the Westmoreland LB fund, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £4,597.
  6. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of Mr Polden and family, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £3,758.
  7. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacies of Mrs May, Mr Haworth, Mrs Sackville and Mr Johnson, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,821.
  8. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of Mrs L. Glen, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £3,743.
  9. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of Mrs L. Philpott, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,821.
  10. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacy of Mrs Watson, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £3,718.
  11. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of Mr A. O. Joy, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,791.
  12. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacies of Mr and Mrs Stych, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £3,754.
  13. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacy of Dr G. V. Blunt, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,812.
  14. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of Sir Heath Harrison, Bt, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £3,754.
  15. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacy of Rev W. S. F. Maynard, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,804.
  16. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacy of Mr S. Smart, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £3,742.
  17. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacy of Dr G. V. Blunt, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,791.
  18. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacies of Miss I. Mudie and Miss E. Mudie, built by John I. Thornycroft & Company of Chiswick, costing £3,233.
  19. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,342.
  20. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, legacy of Mr F. Angus, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,326.
  21. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) lifeboat, legacies of Miss Parsons and Mrs Noy, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,213.
  22. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) lifeboat, legacy of Rev C. P. Eaton, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,009.
  23. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) lifeboat, legacies of Dr T. Richards and Miss S. Lewis, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,010.
  24. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) lifeboat, gift of Lady Mary Harrison, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £3,279.
  25. ^ 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) lifeboat, gift of the 'Girl Guides of the Empire', built by Rowhedge Ironworks of Rowhedge, Essex, costing £5,523.
  26. ^ Gift of Messrs. J & D Morrison, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 18-hp Weyburn AE4 engines, costing £10,573.
  27. ^ Gift of the Trained Women Driver's Assoc., in commemoration of the Mechanised Transport Corp, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 18-hp Weyburn AE4 engines, costing £11,283.
  28. ^ Legacies of Mr Wildish, Mr Mundy, Mr Chrichton and Mrs Wood, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 20-hp FKR3 diesel engines, costing £12,095.
  29. ^ Legacy of Miss Bolton and a gift from the Northumberland War Distress Relief Fund, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 20-hp FKR3 diesel engines, costing £12,548.
  30. ^ Gift of the City of Leeds LB fund, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 20-hp FKR3 diesel engines, costing £13,939.

References

  1. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts' Society. p. 26–37.
  2. ^ a b c d Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Life-boats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 23–25.
  3. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 26–29.
  4. ^ "Priscilla MacBean". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 28–33.
  6. ^ "City of Nottingham". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Cyril & Lilian Bishop". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Guide of Dunkirk". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b Leonard & Denton 2026, pp. 34–37.
  10. ^ "Tillie Morrison Sheffield". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Isaac and Mary Bolton". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
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