Tubular-class lifeboat

New Brighton Tubular Lifeboat, 1863
Class overview
Builders
OperatorsRoyal National Lifeboat Institution
Built1856–1896
In service1856–1939
Completed7
Retired7
General characteristics
TypePulling and sailing lifeboats
Length32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) to 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m)
Beam8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) to 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
PropulsionOars and Sails
Crew12–14

Tubular lifeboats were effectively a type of catamaran, or raft, with a flat deck mounted between two buoyant tubes. The decks of the boats were approximately 11 inches (280 mm) above the water. The lifeboat was the design of Messrs. Richardson, of Bala, Merionethshire. The boats were usually 12, 14 or 16-oared, with sails available for suitable conditions.[1]

A tubular lifeboat was first placed in service at Rhyl in 1856 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Even though just six more of this type were constructed for the Institution, tubular lifeboats were in service with the RNLI for a combined period of 83 years. They operated primarily at just two stations, Rhyl and New Brighton.[2]

Design

The vessel was constructed from two iron cylinders, each approximately 40 ft (12 m) in length and 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) in diameter, divided into watertight compartments. The iron plating of the cylinders was 1⁄12 in (2.1 mm) thick, and each compartment featured openings at the top to allow for the removal of any water ingress via pumping. The four end compartments were fitted with airtight bladders, while the two central compartments were filled with cork shavings.[1]

The ends of the cylinders were tapered, curved, and turned inward to converge at a raised point at both the bow and stern. The cylinders were braced together, resulting in an overall width of 8 ft (2.4 m). Above, a platform was mounted measuring 30 ft (9.1 m) in length and 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) in width.[1]

The vessel was classified as a "Pulling and Sailing" (P&S) lifeboat, typically equipped with 12 to 16 oars, steered by a rudder, and rigged with two lug sails, a jib, and topsails for use in favourable weather conditions. Its buoyancy allowed it to carry up to 80 men, and it remained stable even if all occupants were positioned on one side.[1]

History

The Tubular lifeboat was designed by Henry Richardson and his son Henry Thomas Richardson, both of Aber Hirnant, Bala, in North Wales. Their first vessel, Challenger, was navigated from Liverpool, around Land's End, finally reaching its destination of Ramsgate, having successfully endured rough weather near St Davids and Padstow. It was sold for use in Portugal.[1][3]

Following the loss of six Rhyl lifeboat men when their lifeboat capsized in January 1853, all confidence in their 'Beeching' constructed lifeboat was lost. At the request of the Rhyl lifeboat committee, a tubular lifeboat was commissioned by the RNLI, with a view to evaluating its performance. In February 1856, the new 32-foot tubular lifeboat, constructed by William Lees of Manchester, was launched, and towed from Manchester to Rhyl.[1][4]

When Henry T. Richardson, then of Brynhrfryd, Pwllheli, died on 21 November 1878, he bequeathed to the RNLI, on the death of his wife, the sum of £10,000, to include the provision of two tubular lifeboats, their ongoing maintenance, and the opening of a lifeboat station at Pwllheli.[5]

When the time came, in 1891, a lifeboat station was established at Pwllheli. A 35-foot 7in tubular lifeboat, Caroline Richardson (ON 287), was provided, but it was not liked by the crew. It served just one year at Pwllheli, being launched just once. In fact, such was the dislike for this type of boat that the RNLI went to court to gain permission to reallocate the funds to standard type lifeboats, which was granted. Caroline Richardson (ON 287) was transferred to Rhyl.[6]

In the end, just two RNLI stations would find favour in the tubular lifeboat, Rhyl and New Brighton. A tubular lifeboat would serve at Rhyl from 1856 to 1939, a period of 83 years, with the last boat, Caroline Richardson (ON 398), on station for 42 years.[2]

Tubular lifeboat fleet

ON[a] Name Built In service[2] Station Comments[2][3]
– Challenger 1851 1852–???? Oporto, Portugal [Note 1]
Prototype vessel, sold for service in Oporto Portugal.
70 Unnamed 1856 1856–1866 Rhyl [Note 2]
Sent away for repairs, 1866, returned as Morgan.
70 Morgan 1856 1867–1893 Rhyl [Note 3]
Sold 1893.
Pre-387 Rescue 1862 1863–1866 New Brighton [Note 4]
Withdrawn from service in 1866, completely rebuilt, returned as 40-foot 3in Willie & Arthur.
Pre-387 Willie & Arthur 1862 1867–1876 New Brighton [Note 5]
– No. 1 1870 1870–1894 Liverpool [Note 6]
Operated by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
71 Willie & Arthur 1876 1876–1888 New Brighton No.1 [Note 7]
Condemned and sold, 1890.
Pre-625 Stuart Hay 1878 1878–1888 New Brighton [Note 8]
Broken up in 1888
221 Henry Richardson 1888 1888–1890 New Brighton No.2 [Note 9]
Broken up in 1898.
1890–1893 New Brighton
1893–1898 New Brighton No.1
287 Caroline Richardson 1891 1891–1892 Pwllheli [Note 10]
Broken up in 1899.
1892–1897 Rhyl
1897–1899 Relief fleet
398 Caroline Richardson 1896 1897–1939 Rhyl [Note 11]
Scrapped in 1952.
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 40 ft (12 m) x 8 ft (2.4 m) (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £130.
  2. ^ 32 ft (9.8 m) x 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) (12-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, provided from RNLI funds, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £200.
  3. ^ Legacy of Mrs Morgan of Cheltenham
  4. ^ 42 ft (13 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool, costing £230.
  5. ^ 40 ft 3 in (12.27 m) x 11 ft (3.4 m) (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. Leather of Liverpool.
  6. ^ 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m) x 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) (16-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, built by William Lees of Manchester, costing £130.
  7. ^ 45 ft (14 m) x 11-foot (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr J. Leather of Liverpool, built by J. Hamilton, Jnr, of Liverpool, costing £562-10s-0d.
  8. ^ 40 ft (12 m) x 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) (12-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, gift of J. Hay & Co. of Liverpool, built by J. Hamilton, Jnr, of Liverpool, costing £500.
  9. ^ 43 ft (13 m) x 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. T. Richardson of Bala, built by the Naval Construction and Armament Co. of Barrow-in-Furness, costing £637.
  10. ^ 35 ft 7 in (10.85 m) x 10 ft (3.0 m) (14-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. T. Richardson of Bala, built by Mechan of Glasgow, costing £633.
  11. ^ 34 ft (10 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) (12-oared) (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. T. Richardson of Bala, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £548.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Tubular Life-Boat". The Lifeboat. 1 (6). September 1852. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 8–32.
  3. ^ a b Farr, Grahame; Morris, Jeff (1992). List of British Lifeboats Part 1 & 2 (Second ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 19–20.
  4. ^ "Annual Report". The Lifeboat. II (16): 27. May 1855. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Noble Bequests". The Wrexham Advertiser. 7 December 1878. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Tubular Lifeboats". The Barry Herald. 11 March 1898. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
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