Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor
Talus MB-764 is a four-wheel drive launch tractor which was specifically designed for the RNLI, to launch and recover inflatable inshore lifeboats from beach and shorebased launched lifeboat stations.
The Tractor is produced by the British company of Clayton Engineering Limited who are based in Knighton, Powys.
Development
The MB-764 was the first launch tractor designed and developed in conjunction with the RNLI to launch the institutions smaller inshore inflatable lifeboat fleet. Clayton’s based the design of the MB-764 on tried and tested reliable County Commercial Cars conversions of a Ford tractor, which they marinised and modified to allow the tractor to wade safely to a depth ofin calm water. At the design and development stage the company presented two Prototype models. The first being the main take up by the RNLI. The second example was equipped with a propeller and fully amphibious. The first of these launch tractors went into service with the RNLI in 1975 and since then over
30 tractors have been operated by the Institute around the United Kingdom and Ireland. The basic design, operating and performance characteristics have not changed from the initial design concept vehicle, with the exception of the propelled wading capability.
RNLI Talus MB 764 Fleet
| Op. No. | In service | Station | Reg No. | Image | Current Lifeboat Pay-load |
| TW 02 | Lyme Regis | LRU 581P | Spirit of Loch Fyne | ||
| TW 03 | Largs | RLJ 367R | Atlantic 85 R A Wilson | ||
| TW 05 | Rhyl | UJT 151S | Godfrey and Desmond Nall | ||
| TW 06 | Cleethorpes | VRU 611S | D-class James Burgess II | ||
| TW 07 | Skerries | 88 D 437 | Rockbill | ||
| TW 08 | Kilrush | 87-CE-3065 | Atlantic 85 Edith Louise Eastwick | ||
| TW 09 | Abersoch | PEL 169W | Atlantic 75 Margaret Bench of Solihull | ||
| TW 10 | 1982–1992 | Hunstanton Beaumaris. | VEL 99X | Atlantic 85 Spirit of West Norfolk | |
| TW11 | Weston-super-Mare | B251 HUX | Atlantic 75 "Coventry and Warwickshire" | ||
| TW 13 | Beaumaris | D948 SAW | Atlantic 85 Annette Mary Liddington | ||
| TW 15 | Appledore | E592 WNT | Atlantic 75 Douglas Paley | ||
| TW 30 | Lymington | L123 HUX | Atlantic 75 Victor "Danny" Lovelock | ||
| TW 31 | 1994–present | Red Bay | L526 JUJ | Atlantic 85 Geoffrey Charles | |
| TW 33 | Mudeford | M562 OUX | Atlantic 85 Mudeford Servant | ||
| TW 34 | Kessock | M71 RUX | Atlantic 75 The Moray Dolphin | ||
| TW 35 | Tighnabruaich | N506 WNT | Atlantic 75 Alec and Maimie Preston | ||
| TW 39 | Clifden | 96-D-61119 | Atlantic 75 Benjamin Dowing Fairbridge | ||
| TW 40 | Kinghorn | P472 CUJ | Atlantic 85 Tommy Niven | ||
| TW 41 | Portishead | P301 DAW | Atlantic 85 My Lady Anne | ||
| TW 42 | Youghal | 97 G 8631 | Atlantic 75 Patricia Jennings | ||
| TW 43 | 1983–2008 2008–present | Hayling Island Mablethorpe | S540 UNT | Atlantic 85 Derrick Battle | |
| TW 47 | Lough Swilly | Atlantic 85 Minnie and Ernest George Barry |