Solent-class lifeboat


The Solent-class lifeboat is a steel-hulled version of the 48ft 6in Oakley-class self-righting lifeboat and is sometimes referred to as the 48’6” Oakley-class Mark III. Solent Operational Numbers followed on from the first three 48ft 6in Oakleys and were interrupted by the last two Oakleys. The operational numbers of the Solent-class had three digits in the suffix to indicate a metal hull. Two digits indicates a wooden, GRP or FRC hull.

Description

Apart from the steel hull the principal difference to the wooden hulled Oakley was the elimination of the complicated water ballast self-righting system; the Solent derived its self-righting capability from its watertight superstructure. The class was the last design of the traditional displacement-type lifeboat to come from the drawing boards of the RNLI. There were Mark I and Mark II versions of the class, the first eight boats having a vertical steering wheel with wheelhouse access via sliding doors at the forward end of the wheelhouse on each side, while the last three has a seated steering position with hinged wheelhouse doors at the after end of the wheelhouse. The Mark II entered service in 1972. The first four boats and the last three were built at Cowes by Groves & Guttridge. The second four were built at Gosport by Camper & Nicholson.

Propulsion

The Solent was powered by twin 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines which gave the boat a top speed of. There were twin spade rudders installed which were coupled to Mathway manual steering gear which gave this class a much better manoeuvrability than earlier classes of lifeboats.

Fleet