45ft 6in Watson-class lifeboat

Formerly RNLB Cecil and Lilian Philpott (ON 730), now Stenoa in 2007
Class overview
Name45ft 6in Watson-class
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by45ft Watson-class
Succeeded by46ft Watson-class
Cost£6,800–£11,000
Built1926–1935
In service1926–1972
Completed22(23)
Lost2
Retired20
General characteristics
Class & type45ft 6in Watson-class motor lifeboat
Displacement19 tons
Length45 ft 6 in (13.87 m)
Beam12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion
  • Single engine, 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl.petrol
  • Twin engine, 40-bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol
Speed7 knots
Crew8

The 45ft 6in Watson-class was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1926 and 1933 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1926 and 1972.

History

The 45ft 6in Watson-class marked the transition from a single engine, single screw lifeboat, to a twin engine, twin screw layout. The first two boats were similar to the last of the 45ft Watson-class boats, albeit six inches longer due to a forward raked bow. The third boat was the first with twin engines and twin screws while the fourth had twin engines geared to a single screw, a unique layout in RNLI lifeboat history. The twin screw layout proved to be superior and from the fifth boat onward, this was the layout adopted.[1]

The 45ft 6in Watsons were long lived and most survived at their original stations into the 1950s, when most were replaced by 46ft 9in and, later in the decade, 47ft Watsons. Many boats spent their final years in the reserve fleet, with five of the later boats serving until 1969 and one, ON759, continuing in the reserve fleet until 1972.[2]

During their service, 45ft 6in Watsons launched on service 2,587 times and are credited with saving 2,613 lives. The single biggest contributor being the Humber lifeboat City of Bradford II (ON 709), which in twenty-five years at the station, launched on service 228 times, saving 305 lives.[1]

Description

The 45ft 6in Watsons differed from the previous 45ft type in having flush decks with no end boxes. The aft cockpit had a shelter ahead of it covering the engine room access hatch. Ahead of this was the exhaust funnel and towards the bow was a further small shelter.

The first two boats retained the single engine layout of their predecessors, being powered by the same 80bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cylinder petrol engines. The third boat (ON 700) was the first twin-engined version, with two 40bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cylinder petrol engines driving twin screws. The fourth in the series (ON 701) had a unique twin engine, single screw layout which was not repeated. From ON 707 onwards, the twin screw layout was standardised.[1]

The drop keel fitted to the single engine boats was deleted from the twins, and eventually the auxiliary sailing rig was dispensed with on the twins in the light of operational experience.

Fleet

ON[a] Name Built In service[2] Stations Comments[2][1]
698 K. T. J. S. 1926 1926–1933 Longhope [Note 1] Single engine. Sold May 1952.
Renamed Alton (LO 511), later Alton (BM 160). Wrecked in 1980.
1933–1935 Aith
1935–1950 Arranmore
1950–1952 Relief fleet
699 John Russell 1926 1926–1939 Montrose No.1 [Note 2] Single engine. Sold July 1956.
At some time named Athena. Last reported for sale at Beaulieu, Hampshire, August 2025.
1939–1953 Relief fleet
1953–1954 Fraserburgh
700 K. E. C. F. 1927 1927–1939 Rosslare Harbour [Note 3] Twin engine, twin screw. First RNLI lifeboat with Radio.
Sold December 1956.
Renamed Taob Ruo II, P'teuchti IV and Pteuchti. Broken up at C & J Marina, North Shields, April 2015.
1939–1952 Galway Bay
1952–1956 Relief fleet
701 N. T. 1927 1927–1951 Barrow [Note 4] Unique Twin engine, single screw layout.

Sold December 1956.
Renamed Diana Victoria. Last reported as a workboat on the River Ouse in York, 1987.

1952–1953 Workington
1953–1956 Relief fleet
707 Edward Z. Dresden 1929 1929–1952 Clacton-on-Sea [Note 5] First twin engine, twin screw.
Sold December 1968.
Renamed St Peter. Lost at Troon, 1 September 1984.
1952–1955 Stronsay
1955–1968 Relief fleet
708 H. C. J. 1928 1928 Fowey (temp.) [Note 6] Sold in 1962.
Renamed Mary Dolan, later Seawitch. At Castletown, Isle of Man, July 2025.
1928–1929 Holyhead (temp.)
1929–1956 Thurso
1956–1962 Relief fleet
709 City of Bradford II 1929 1929–1954 Humber [Note 7] Sold December 1968.
Renamed Freida and Spurn. As City of Bradford II, beached at Ringhaddy Pier, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, December 2025.
1954–1956 Amble
1956–1959 Relief fleet
1960 Broughty Ferry
1960–1968 Relief fleet
710 White Star 1930 1930–1957 Fishguard [Note 8] Sold June 1968.
Renamed Outward Bound, Kurt Hahn Aberdovey, Kurt Hahn and Tunnara. Last reported on a mud berth at Oyster Creek Marina, Canvey Island, July 2024.
1957–1968 Relief fleet
711 James Macfee 1928 1928–1955 Cromarty [Note 9] Sold in 1959.
Renamed Macfee. Last reported as a houseboat on Loch Oich at Invergarry, July 2023.
1955–1956 Relief fleet
1956–1957 Thurso
1957–1959 Relief fleet
712 C. D. E. C. 1928 1928–1954 Fowey [Note 10] Sold in 1959.
Renamed Thameserver. Last reported to be semi-derelict at Leigh-on-Sea, October 2023.
1954–1959 Relief fleet
713 Elizabeth Elson 1929 1929–1957 Angle [Note 11] Sold December 1968.
Last reported at Kenmare in Co Kerry, Ireland, May 2023
1957–1968 Relief fleet
714 H. F. Bailey 1928 1928–1929 Cromer No.1 [Note 12]
Transferred to Selsey and renamed Canadian Pacific, 1929. Destroyed by fire during maintenance at Groves & Guttridge, Cowes, 18 June 1937.
Canadian Pacific 1929–1937 Selsey
716 Sarah Ward and William David Crossweller 1929 1929–1958 Courtmacsherry Harbour [Note 13] Sold in 1961.
Renamed Lady Leigh IV, Court McSherry. As Courtmacsherry at Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, September 2025.
1958–1959 Relief fleet
1959–1961 Whitehills
728 Cunard 1930 1930–1955 St Mary's [Note 14] Sold in 1969.
Renamed Henry Joy. Reported as being ashore at Coney Island, Killough, Northern Ireland, December 2025.
1955–1969 Relief fleet
729 John R. Webb 1930 1930–1955 Tenby [Note 15] Sold September 1969.
Renamed Rairewa II. Last reported to have been moved to Poland, 1969
1955–1969 Relief fleet
730 Cecil and Lilian Philpott 1930 1930–1959 Newhaven [Note 16] Sold October 1969.
Renamed Stenoa. At Titchmarsh Marina, Walton-on-the-Naze, May 2025.[3]
1959–1969 Relief fleet
732 Catherine 1930 – Bombay [Note 17] Built for Bombay Port Trust. Last reported sold in 1935.
736 W. and S. 1931 1931–1960 Penlee [Note 18] Sold 1970.
Renamed Early Mist, later Atlantic. Reported broken up at Bathside, Harwich, September 2025.
1960–1961 Buckie
1961–1969 Relief fleet
749 George and Sarah Strachan 1931 1931–1959 Dunbar [Note 19] Sold March 1969. Last reported as a workboat at Dunoon, November 2013.
1959–1960 Relief fleet
1960–1963 Exmouth
1964–1969 Relief fleet
753 Civil Service No.5 1932 1932–1950 Donaghadee [Note 20] Sold February 1958.
Renamed Donaghadee, Loe Trout, Silver Sea, Silver Bay, Lorelei, and White Star. At the former Titanic Museum, Clacknaharry Road, Muirtown Basin, Inverness, May 2025.
1950–1956 Port St Mary
1956–1958 Relief fleet
759 Thomas McCunn 1933 1933–1962 Longhope [Note 21] Sold August 1972.
Renamed Pentland Speir. Restored as Thomas McCunn, on display sinc e December 2000 at Longhope Lifeboat Museum, December 2025.[4]
1962–1972 Relief fleet
774 Charlotte Elizabeth 1935 1935–1959 Islay [Note 22] Sold in 1961.
Renamed Corgarth and Dale Queen. Last reported cut in two at Thurso River Quay and stored on wasteland, September 2021.
1959–1961 Relief fleet
775 Mona 1935 1935–1959 Broughty Ferry [Note 23]
Capsized on service with eight crew lost, 8 December 1959. Boat later burned on the beach.
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Legacies of Mr King, Mr Turnbull, Mr Jesset and Mrs Sandford, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £8,330.
  2. ^ Legacy of Miss A. Russell, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £8,273.
  3. ^ Legacies of Mrs Kirby, Mrs Dudley, Mr Kleeman and Miss Potton, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £11,116.
  4. ^ Legacy of Mrs Myer, and gift of Mr S. H. Thompson, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £10,826.
  5. ^ Legacy of Mr E. Dresden, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £8,496.
  6. ^ Legacies of Mr Richardson and Mrs Stephens, and a gift of Mr Fielden, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £8,390.
  7. ^ Gift of the City of Bradford LB fund, and legacy of Mr M. Howson, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £8,662.
  8. ^ Gift of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co., built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £7,878.
  9. ^ Legacy of Dr J. Macfee, of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co., built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £8,205.
  10. ^ Legacies of Mr Nottage, Miss Moss, Mrs Liddell and Mrs Picking, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £8,309.
  11. ^ Legacy of Mr B. Elson, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £8,253.
  12. ^ Legacy of Mr H. F. Bailey, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, costing £8,470.
  13. ^ Legacy of Mr Crossweller, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £8,454.
  14. ^ Gift of Cunard Steamship Co., built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £8,324.
  15. ^ Legacy of Mr J. R. Webb, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, costing £8,318.
  16. ^ Gift of Mrs L. Philpott, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £7,982.
  17. ^ Built by J. Samuel White
  18. ^ Legacies of Miss Young and Miss Coode, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £7,684.
  19. ^ Legacy of Mr Strachan, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £7,680.
  20. ^ Gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £7,294.
  21. ^ Legacy of Mr W. McCunn, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, costing £7,120.
  22. ^ Gift of Miss E. Sinclair, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, costing £8,381.
  23. ^ An anonymous gift, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, costing £6,802.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Morris, Jeff (2008). Lists of British Life-boats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 7–9.
  2. ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 28–31.
  3. ^ "Stenoa". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Thomas McCunn". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
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