Solent-class lifeboat

Sea Guardian, formerly R. Hope Roberts (ON 1011) at Australian National Maritime Museum, 2015
Class overview
Builders
Operators
Preceded byWatson
Succeeded byTyne
Built1969–1973[1]
In service1969–2021
Completed11
Retired11
General characteristics
Typemotor lifeboat
Displacement27 tons
Length48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam14 ft (4.3 m)
Draught4 ft 8 in (1.42 m)
Propulsion2 x 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines
Speed9.5 knots (10.9 mph)
Range150 nautical miles (280 km)
Crew7

The Solent-class lifeboat is a steel-hulled version of the 48-foot-6-inch (14.78 m) Oakley-class self-righting lifeboat and is sometimes referred to as the 48-foot, 6-inch Oakley-class Mark III.[2] Solent Operational Numbers followed on from the first three 48-foot, 6-inch 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 and Tyne classes, one Arun class and the first eleven Merseys). Two digits indicates a wooden, glass-reinforced plastic or fiber-reinforced composite hull.

Description

The Solent was powered by twin 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines which gave the boat a top speed of 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph). There were twin spade rudders installed which were coupled to Mathway manual steering gear.[3]

Apart from the steel hull, the Solent-class differed from the Oakley-class in its self-righting mechanism. The Oakley used a water ballast system, while the Solent class was inherently self-righting as a result of its watertight superstructure. The Solent was the last class of traditional displacement-type lifeboats designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.[2]

There were two versions of the Solent, unofficially known as "Mark I" and "Mark II". The "Mark I" boats have a vertical steering wheel. Sliding doors provide access to the forward end of the wheelhouse on each side. The "Mark II" boats have a seated steering position with hinged wheelhouse doors at the after end of the wheelhouse. These boats entered service in 1972.[2]

The first four Solent-class boats (ON 1007 – ON 1010) and the last three (ON 1019 - ON 1021) were built by Groves & Guttridge at Cowes. The second four (ON 1011 – ON 1014) were built by Camper & Nicholson at Gosport.[4]

RNLI fleet

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built In service[5] Station Comments[4][5]
1007 48-004 George Urie Scott 1969 1969–1978 Lochinver [Note 1] Sold 1990.
Renamed Lunga and Blue Highlander. Now named Highlander, at Ameland, NL, September 2025
1979–1984 Rosslare Harbour
1985–1989 Lochinver
1989–1990 Relief fleet
1008 48-005 James and Mariska Joicey 1969 1969–1986 Peterhead [Note 2] Sold 1990.
Renamed Mariska, Mirage of Dart and Thee Hearts. Restored 2014–2021 as James and Mariska Joicey . At Restonguet Creek, Mylor, Cornwall, December 2025.[6]
1987–1988 The Lizard
1988–1990 Relief fleet
1009 48-006 Jack Shayler and the Lees 1970 1970–1987 Bembridge [Note 3] Sold June 1994.
Renamed Anne with SAR Tallinn, Estonia. See below:–
1988 Dunbar
1989 Wicklow
1989–1993 Relief fleet
1010 48-007 David and Elizabeth King and E. B. 1970 1970–1988 Longhope [Note 4] Sold 1990.
Renamed Island Lass and Storm. Now in unaltered condition bearing original name at Glasson Dock, Lancashire, August 2025.
1988–1989 Invergordon
1989–1990 Relief fleet
1011 48-008 R. Hope Roberts 1969 1969–1978 Rosslare Harbour [Note 5] Sold 1993.
Renamed ANL Sea Guardian. Now named Sea Guardian at Gold Coast City Marina, Queensland, Aus., March 2024.
1979–1985 Fraserburgh
1985–1987 Galway Bay
1987 Relief fleet
1987–1993 Courtmacsherry Harbour
1012 48-009 City of Birmingham 1970 1970–1983 Exmouth [Note 6] Sold July 1995
Renamed ADES 14 with ADES Uruguay. See below:–
1984–1993 Walton and Frinton
1993–1994 Relief fleet
1013 48-010 The Royal British Legion Jubilee 1970 1970–1978 Relief Fleet [Note 7] Sold April 1990.
Renamed Ocean Jubilee, restored in Wakefield. Later renamed The Royal British Legion Jubilee but broken up in Knottingley, December 2020.
1979–1979 Fraserburgh
1979–1986 Relief fleet
1986–1988 Peterhead
1988–1990 Relief fleet
1014 48-011 The Three Sisters 1970 1970–1988 {Thurso [Note 8] Sold April 1990.
October 2018, Heavily converted cruiser, at Turnchapel, Plymouth, April 2025.
1988–1989 Wicklow
1989–1990 Relief fleet
1019 48-014 Lady MacRobert 1972 1972–1989 Montrose [Note 9] Sold March 1994.
Renamed ADES 12 with ADES Uruguay. See below:–
1989–1993 Relief fleet
1020 48-015 Hugh William Viscount Gough 1973 1973–1984 Stornoway [Note 10] Sold September 1993.
Unaltered pleasure boat at Puteri Harbour Marina, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, September 2021. Last reported under restoration at Miri, Malaysia, January 2026.
1984–1988 Barra Island
1988–1993 Dunbar
1021 48-016 Douglas Currie 1973 1973–1974 Relief fleet [Note 11] Sold 1992.
Renamed Leon del Mar and Solent Sea Lion. Now in unaltered condition as Douglas Currie at Fraserburgh, Scotland, June 2025.
1974–1975 Kirkwall
1975–1984 Macduff
1985 Fraserburgh
1986–1989 Portpatrick
1990–1992 Workington
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Other fleets

RNLI ON[a] Name Built In service[5] Station Comments[4][5]
1009 Anne
(SAR Tallinn, Estonia) 		1970 1994–2006 Tallinn Retired 2006?
Believed broken up 2021.
1012 ADES 14 ILC 95
(ADES Uruguay) 		1970 1995–2015 Montevideo Retired 2015.
Sold as a workboat, last seen in storage near Montevideo, December 2022.
1019 ADES 12
(ADES Uruguay) 		1972 1994–2021 Punta del Este Retired 2021.
For sale at Punta del Este, December 2024.
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

Notes

  1. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, gift of Mrs Scott, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £70,000.
  2. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, legacy of Mrs Joicey, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £65,000.
  3. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, legacies of Miss Shayler and Mr Lees, and RNLI funds, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £59,323.
  4. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m) Solent-class lifeboat, legacy of Miss King, and an anonymous donor, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £59,323.
  5. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, legacies of Mrs Ronald, Mrs Hope and Mrs Roberts, plus an anonymous gift, built by Camper Nicholson of Gosport, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £70,000.
  6. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, funded by the City of Birmingham Lifeboat Appeal, built by Camper Nicholson of Gosport, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £72,000.
  7. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, funded by the Royal British Legion, built by Camper Nicholson of Gosport, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £72,000.
  8. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, an anonymous gift, built by Camper Nicholson of Gosport, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £65,000.
  9. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, gift of 'The MacRobert Trust', built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £73,000.
  10. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, gift of the Dowager Viscountess Gough and the Viscount Gough, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £73,000.
  11. ^ 48 ft 6 in (14.78 m) x 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m) Solent-class lifeboat, gift of 'The Douglas Currie Trust' and the legacy of Mr Davidson, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 110-hp Gardner 6LX engines, costing £65,113.

References

  1. ^ Howarth, Patrick (1981), Lifeboat – In Danger's Hour. (Third Impression 1982 ed.), Hamlyn, p. 140, ISBN 0600349594
  2. ^ a b c Evans, Clayton (2003), Rescue at Sea – An International History of Lifesaving, Coastal Rescue Craft and Organisations, Conway Maritime Press, p. 161, ISBN 0851779344
  3. ^ "New £70,000 Lifeboat" (PDF). The Lifeboat. XL (429): 678–679. September 1969. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Life-boats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 42–46.
  5. ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 42–43.
  6. ^ "James and Mariska Joicey". National Historic Ships UK. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
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