46ft Watson-class lifeboat

Julia Park Barry of Glasgow (ON 819) at Admiralty Gateway / Peterhead Prison Museum, 2019.
Class overview
Name46ft Watson-class
Builders
Operators RNLI
Preceded by45ft 6in Watson-class
Succeeded by46ft 9in Watson-class
Cost£7,308–£17,048
Built1935–1946
In service1935–1981
Completed28
Lost2
Retired26
General characteristics
Class & type46ft Watson motor lifeboat
Displacement21 tons
Length46 ft (14 m)
Beam12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 x 40-bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol
  • 2 x 40-bhp Ferry VE4 4-cyl. diesel
Speed8 knots
Crew8

The 46 ft Watson-class was a non-self-righting displacement hull lifeboat, built between 1935 and 1946, and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1935 and 1981.

Description

The 46 ft Watson initially had an aft cockpit with a shelter containing the engine controls. Ahead of the shelter was the exhaust funnel and ahead of the mast was a small forward shelter. On ON 805 and 815, the cockpit shelter was lengthened, with the funnel mounted on its forward end and these two featured end boxes. ON 820 also had the lengthened shelter but retained a flush deck. From ON 828 the forward shelter was deleted. Two boats, ON 840 and ON 846 had midships cockpits, ahead of the funnel, with a shelter ahead of it as well as the rear shelter.

Four of the first five boats had two 40-bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cylinder petrol engines, but the fourth, ON 787, was fitted with two 40-bhp Ferry VE4 4-cylinder diesels, making it the first RNLI lifeboat to be built with diesel engines. The diesels became standard from the sixth boat onwards.[1]

In the mid sixties, seven boats were re-engined with 65-bhp Ford-based Parsons Barracuda 6-cylinder diesels, after trials with Canadian Pacific (ON 803), which had been fitted with 47-bhp Parsons Marlin diesels in 1961, and then re-engined a second time, with the Parsons Barracuda in 1963.[1]

The 46 ft type was one of the last to be adapted to suit the conditions at individual stations, with shallower draft versions (ON 805, 815, 820 and 838) being supplied to four stations, all constructed by J. Samuel White of Cowes. This practice ceased after World War Two, with lifeboats constructed to standard designs.[1]

The 46 ft Watson-class lifeboats were long-lived, most reaching more than thirty-years-service and some topping forty years.[2]

Boat-builders yard fire

On 18 June 1937, a fire at the boatbuilders yard of Groves and Guttridge in Cowes on the Isle of Wight destroyed three lifeboats, and a large quantity of timber. A fourth lifeboat had fortunately been dispatched to Blackpool only 15 hours earlier. The fire completely destroyed the 46 ft Watson-class S. G. E (ON 787), built in 1936, which had been returned to the manufacturers for maintenance work.[3]

Fleet

46ft Watson-class (std)

ON[a] Name Built In service[2] Stations Comments[1][2]
777 H. F. Bailey 1935 1935–1945 Cromer No.1 [Note 1]Sold in 1973.
On display since 2009 at the Henry Blogg Museum, Cromer. In storage during museum refurbishment. February 2026.[4]
1946–1960 Helvick Head
1960–1973 Relief fleet
778 Edward and Isabella Irwin 1935 1935–1963 Sunderland [Note 2] Sold 1971.
Renamed Lady Clare C. Last reported as the hull of Edward and Isabella Irwin at Liverpool Sailing Club, Garston, Liverpool, May 2018.
1963–1966 Relief fleet
1966–1967 Cromer
1967–1969 Relief fleet
784 Civil Service No.6 1935 1936–1956 St Davids [Note 3]
Renamed Swn-Y-Mor (Civil Service No.6) in 1956.
Swn-Y-Mor
(Civil Service No.6) 		1956–1963 St Davids Sold February 1973.
Renamed Swn-y-Mor. At Suffolk Yacht Harbour, November 2025.[5]
1964–1967 Eyemouth
1967–1972 Relief fleet
787 S.G.E. 1936 1936–1937 Yarmouth [Note 4]
Destroyed by fire at Groves & Guttridge, 18 June 1937.
788 Jeanie Spiers 1936 1937–1961 Portpatrick [Note 5] Sold April 1961.
Believed lost at Largs, 1974.
789 R.P.L. 1936 1937–1962 Howth [Note 6] Sold September 1962.
Renamed Blue Gannet, Southern Cross and Maid of Sker. Destroyed by fire at Grangetown, Cardiff, April 1999.
790 John and Charles Kennedy 1936 1937–1953 Fraserburgh [Note 7]
Capsized on service with six crew lost, 9 February 1953, and subsequently broken up.
801 Sir Arthur Rose 1938 1938–1947 Tobermory [Note 8] Sold February 1973.
Renamed Belmura. Last reported as Rose Marion at Tidemill Yacht Harbour, Woodbridge, Suffolk, May 2022.
1948–1957 Mallaig
1958–1969 Courtmacsherry Harbour
1969–1973 Relief fleet
802 City of Edinburgh 1938 1938–1968 Wick [Note 9] Sold July 1976.
Renamed Stadab. As Saltire at South Harbour, Whitehaven, September 2025.
1969–1976 Relief fleet
803 Canadian Pacific 1938 1938–1969 Selsey [Note 10] Sold February 1978.
Renamed Scrabster Pilot, Kelmar, and Tusack. In unaltered condition as Canadian Pacific at Dornie, Kyle of Lochalsh, September 2024.[6]
1969–1970 Sheerness
1970–1977 Relief fleet
804 S.G.E. 1938 1938–1943 Yarmouth [Note 11]
Replacement for ON 787.
Sold April 1964. Renamed John Dutton at Saint Helena. Believed lost in 2000.
1943–1945 Relief fleet
1945–1963 Yarmouth
814 Dunleary II 1938 1938–1967 Dún Laoghaire [Note 12] Sold August 1974.
At Wapping Wharf, Bristol, August 2025.[7]
1967–1969 Lochinver
1969–1972 Relief fleet
1972–1973 Dunmore East
818 Mabel Marion Thompson 1939 1939–1952 Rosslare Harbour [Note 13] Sold April 1975.
Renamed Carstiona .Last reported under restoration at Kinvarra, Co. Galway, December 2011.
1952–1968 Galway Bay
1968–1970 Arranmore
1970–1974 Relief fleet
819 Julia Park Barry of Glasgow 1939 1939–1969 Peterhead [Note 14] Sold March 1979.
Renamed Savell-o-Hicks. Fully restored, on display as Julia Park Barry of Glasgow at Admiralty Gateway / Peterhead Prison Museum, December 2025.
1969–1979 Relief fleet
821 The Good Hope 1939 1939–1972 Montrose No.1 [Note 15] Sold in 1981.
Renamed Myra Jane, Soraya, and The Good Hope of Montrose. Last reported at Albion dockyard, Bristol, August 2021.
1972–1980 Relief fleet
822 Jesse Lumb 1939 1939–1970 Bembridge [Note 16] Sold July 1981. Previously at Imperial War Museum Duxford, now at the Classic Boat Museum, West Cowes, Isle of Wight, December 2025.[8]
1970–1980 Relief fleet
828 The Princess Royal
(Civil Service No.7) 		1939 1939–1968 Hartlepool [Note 17] Sold 1976.
Renamed La Rochelle. Stored as The Princess Royal at Hartlepool Marina, December 2025.[9]
1968–1969 Humber No.2
1969–1976 Relief fleet
829 Crawford and Constance Conybeare 1939 1940–1968 Falmouth [Note 18] Sold August 1974
Renamed Three Seas, Bilitis and Connie. Last reported being shipped to Singapore, January 1997.
1968–1974 Relief fleet
830 Annie Blanche Smith 1940 1940–1970 Dunmore East [Note 19] Sold July 1971
Renamed Dunmore East Lifeboat. Later reverted to Annie Blanche Smith, but broken up at Bideford Quay, September 2011.
1970–1971 Relief fleet
842 (Millie Walton) 1940 No (Douglas) Destroyed in air raid during build at Groves & Guttridge, Cowes, 4 May 1942.
843 (Charles Henry Ashley) 1940 No (Porthdinllaen) Destroyed in air raid during build at Groves & Guttridge, Cowes, 4 May 1942.
841 Manchester and Salford XXIX 1943 1943–1953 Pwllheli [Note 20] Sold August 1974
Renamed Maureen Mary, Paul David II, and Frederick William. A houseboat, Manchester and Salford XXIX RNLI ON 841 at A. W. Marine, Canvey Island, July 2024.[10]
1953–1972 Workington
1972–1974 Relief fleet
840 Millie Walton 1945 1945–1947 Cromer No.1 [Note 21] Originally built for Douglas. Renamed Henry Blogg in 1947.
Henry Blogg 1947–1966 Cromer No.1 Sold April 1977.
Renamed Blogg of Cromer, but broken up in October 2016.
1966–1976 Relief fleet
846 Field Marshal and Mrs Smuts 1945 1945–1977 Beaumaris [Note 22] Sold August 1979.
Renamed Kenanda, later Llas-Sah-D, Broken up at Peel, Isle of Man, 13 August 2025.
1977–1979 Relief fleet
847 Gertrude 1946 1946–1968 Holy Island [Note 23] Sold February 1982.
Unaltered at Mevagissey harbour, December 2025.
1968–1970 Exmouth
1970–1974 Sheerness
1974–1980 Relief fleet
1980–1981 Fowey
848 Millie Walton 1946 1946–1956 Douglas [Note 24] Sold October 1977.
Renamed Tyne Winder. Returned to be Millie Walton, but was broken up at Charlotte Quay, Grand Canal Basin, Dublin, July 2015.
1956–1974 Amble
1974–1977 Relief fleet

46ft Watson-class (shallow draft)

ON[a] Name Built In service[2] Stations Comments[1][2]
805 Samuel and Marie Parkhouse 1938 1938–1962 Salcombe [Note 25] Sold September 1963.
Renamed Oniros, at Titchmarsh Marina, Walton-on-the-Naze, December 2025.
815 Violet Armstrong 1938 1938–1962 Appledore [Note 26] Sold October 1962.
Under restoration at Albion Yard Marina, Bristol, April 2025.
820 Louise Stephens 1939 1939–1967 Great Yarmouth and Gorleston [Note 27] Sold August 1974.
Renamed Mid Tyne Mariner, Tyne Star and Louise. Under restoration as Louise Stephens at Hewitt's boatyard, Stiffkey, Norfolk, December 2025.[11]
1967–1974 Eyemouth
838 Michael Stephens 1939 1939–1963 Lowestoft [Note 28] Sold January 1976.
Last reported in unaltered condition, on the River Yealm, Newton Ferrers, Devon, December 2023.
1963–1968 Exmouth
1968–1976 Relief fleet
  1. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Legacy of Mr H. F Bailey, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engines, and internal rudder, costing £7,308.
  2. ^ Legacy of Mrs Irwin, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engines, costing £7,378.
  3. ^ Gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engines, costing £7,618.
  4. ^ Legacies of Mr Altschul, Miss Gartside and Mr Edmunds, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, costing £8,505.
  5. ^ Gift of Mrs Paterson, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, with internal rudder, and twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engines, costing £8,434.
  6. ^ Legacies of Mr Rignal, Miss Phillips and Mrs Butterworth, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with internal rudder, costing £8,191.
  7. ^ Legacy of Mrs Kennedy, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, costing £8,178.
  8. ^ Gift of Miss M. Lithgow, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, with internal rudder, costing £8,358.
  9. ^ Funded by the RNLI, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, with internal rudder, costing £8,155. Twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1966.
  10. ^ Gift of the Canadian Pacific Steamship Co., built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, with internal rudder, costing £8,314. Twin 47-bhp Parsons Ford Marlin 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1961, and twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1963.
  11. ^ Legacies of Mr Altschul, Miss Gartside and Mr Edmunds, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with internal rudder, costing £8,266.
  12. ^ Fundedby the RNLI, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with internal rudder, costing £8,258.
  13. ^ Legacy of Miss Thompson, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with internal rudder, costing £9,649.
  14. ^ Gift of Mrs Park-Barry, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, costing £9,055. Twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1964.
  15. ^ An anonymous gift, built by Alexander Robertson & Sons of Sandbank, Argyll, costing £9,070. Shelter added, 1966, Twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1966.
  16. ^ Legacy of Miss Lumb, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £9,455. Shelter added, 1964. Twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1964.
  17. ^ Gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £9,455. Shelter added, 1964. Twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1964.
  18. ^ Gift of Mrs Conybeare, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £10,268.
  19. ^ Legacies of Mrs Smith and Mrs Lucas, and funds from the executors of the late Mr Stephens, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with internal rudder, costing £10,279.
  20. ^ Gift of the Manchester and Salford LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with stern cockpit, costing £11,912.
  21. ^ Legacy of Mrs Walton, built by the Sussex Yacht Co. of Shoreham, with internal rudder, and first to be fitted with midships cockpit, and internal rudder, costing £15,245.
  22. ^ Gift of the South Africa branch of the RNLI, built by Morgan Giles of Teignmouth, with internal rudder and mid-ship steering, costing £13,865.
  23. ^ Legacy of Lady Struthers (née Gertrude Hill), built by Rowhedge Ironworks of Rowhedge, Essex, with internal rudder and stern cockpit, costing £17,048. Shelter added, 1968. Twin 65-bhp Parsons Ford Barracuda 6-cyl. diesel engines, 1966. Radar, 1973.
  24. ^ Legacy of Mrs Walton, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with internal rudder and stern cockpit, costing £14,462.
  25. ^ Legacy of Mrs Parkhouse, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with internal rudder, and turtle-decks fore and aft, costing £8,450.
  26. ^ Gift of Mr Armstrong, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with internal rudder, and turtle-decks fore and aft, costing £8,600.
  27. ^ Legacy of Mrs Stephens, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £9,351.
  28. ^ Legacy of Mrs L. Stephens, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, costing £10,104.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Life-boats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 9–11.
  2. ^ a b c d e Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 30–35.
  3. ^ "A Fire at a Building Yard. Three Life-Boats Destroyed". The Lifeboat. XXX (331): 350. October 1937. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  4. ^ "H F Bailey". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Swn Y Mor". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Canadian Pacific II". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Dunleary II O.N. 814". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Jesse Lumb". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  9. ^ "The Princess Royal". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Manchester and Salford XXIX". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Louise Stephens". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
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