The Clyde-class lifeboat was operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from just two of its stations in the United Kingdom, and . Only three vessels were built for the RNLI, however a fourth vessel was built in the Netherlands to the same lines as 70-001 and 70-003, as a pilot boat for Trinity House.
History Following a visit in the early sixties to lifeboat societies in the Netherlands and West Germany, which successfully employed cruising lifeboats, the RNLI's Management Committee decided to sanction the construction of two such boats for RNLI service. The first two boats went on trials in 1966 and in 1968 went on station at Clovelly and Kirkwall. The third boat was built as a relief but took over as station boat at Clovelly, with the first boat becoming the relief. It eventually became apparent that cruising type boats were not really suited to the RNLI's operations and the boats were used at their respective bases as normal lifeboats until withdrawal in 1988.
Description The Clyde-class cruising lifeboat was the largest ever built for the RNLI, and the first to have a steel hull. The first and second boats differed in hull design, Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No.35) (ON 987) having a hull designed by the RNLI's Richard Oakley, long and with a beam of , while the second boat, Grace Paterson Ritchie (ON 988), had a hull designed by Irish naval architect John Tyrrell and was long and with a beam of . Both boats had similar superstructure layouts, with a flying bridge. As crews were intended to live on board, berths and messing facilities were provided.
The boats were powered by two Gardner 8L3B 8-cylinder diesel engines, driving twin screws. An inflatable inshore lifeboat was carried forward of the wheelhouse.
Eight years after the first boat had been built, it was decided to build a third Clyde as a relief boat for the first two. This was based on the Oakley hull design, but featured a completely redesigned superstructure resembling an overgrown .
RNLI fleet ON Op. No. Name Built Station Comments98770-001Charles H. Barrett(Civil Service No.35)1965 1966–1968 Trials x lifeboat, gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun, Glasgow, with twin 230-hp Gardner 8L3B diesel engines, costing £63,907. Sold 1988.Renamed Poplar Diver. Now Dolphin, at Maassluis, NL, July 2025. MMSI 244070415 1968–1975 1975–1988 9881965 1966–1967 Ullapool x lifeboat, legacy of Miss G. P. Ritchie, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun, Glasgow, with twin 230-hp Gardner 8L3B diesel engines, costing £65,113. Sold to Iceland SAR, named Henry A. Hálfdánsson, 1989.See below:– 1967–1968 Relief fleet 1968–1974 1974–1975 Relief fleet 1975–1988 1030 70-003 City of Bristol 1974 1975–1988 x lifeboat, gift of the Bristol LB appeal, plus legacies of Mrs Rimer, Dr Riddick, Mr Vagg and Mrs Shrosbee, built by Bideford Shipyard 1973 Ltd, of Bideford, with twin 230-hp Gardner 8L3B diesel engines, costing £196,000. Sold 1988.Renamed John V Story, City of Bristol and Gemini Storm. Now Gemini Explorer, last reported at Loch Drambuie, Sound of Mull, June 2024.MMSI 235084267
Other fleets Iceland RNLI ON Name ISL Reg. No. Station Comments 988 2001 Reykjavík Sold 2002.Renamed Grace Paterson Richie, at Coleraine, Northern Ireland. MMSI 235014516
Trinity House fleet Name Built In service Service Comments Lodesman 1974 Heavy weather pilot vessel MV Lodesman, with Roving Eye Enterprises, Orkney.MMSI 235076219
See also Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
Notes
References
External links RNLI Trinity House