The Watson-class lifeboat is a design of non-self-righting lifeboat, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1888 and 1991. There were several variations over the years but all the boats had hulls that conformed to a design by George Lennox Watson, the RNLI's naval architect from 1887 until his death in 1904.
History The majority of lifeboats in service with the RNLI during the second half of the nineteenth century were of the Self-Righting type, designed to operate in rough seas close to the shore. Usually, the boat would have a heavy iron keel, and strategically fitted buoyancy aids, which would bring the boat upright following a capsize.
Some stations, which required a better sea-going boat, preferred the greater stability of a non-self-righting boat, such as the class of lifeboat. This was especially relevant to those operating in shallow conditions, where a capsized boat might get caught on the sea-bottom and not self-right. Following the Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster in 1886, George Lennox Watson designed a new non-self-righting hull shape for the RNLI, which was first used for the construction of the pulling and sailing lifeboat Edith and Annie (ON 208), built in 1888. A further 42 pulling and sailing lifeboats were built to Watson's design, the last built in 1915, some 11 years after his death.
For information of the Watson-class Pulling and Sailing lifeboats, see:– Watson-class P&S lifeboat
Motor lifeboats The RNLI began trials with motor lifeboats in 1903, when a standard self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, J. McConnell Hussey (ON 343), was fitted with an 11-hp Fay and Bowen engine. In 1906, two further self-righting lifeboats of and , and a non-self-righting , were fitted with engines of varying size and manufacturer.
In 1908, the RNLI commissioned production of motor-powered Watson-class lifeboats. The first was the John Ryburn (ON 565), which was assigned to in the Orkney Islands. The boat would be one of the first two lifeboats, the other being John Hay (ON 561), a self-righting single engine lifeboat bound for , to travel to their new stations under their own power, both departing London Docks at 08:50 on 15 April 1909. Even though motor-power was now being employed, the two boats towed a brand-new traditional pulling and sailing (P&S) lifeboat to its new station at .
The journey wasn't without its problems, with the John Ryburn needing a new engine bearing at Tynemouth, further work at Thurso, and being delayed so much, as to miss her intended naming ceremony date. By October 1909, the boat was back in Kirkwall for more engine work, and problems were only finally resolved, when a new engine was fitted in 1914.
Fleet 38ft, 40ft and 43ft Watson motor lifeboats The first Watson motor lifeboats were based on the most common pulling and sailing hulls, the , and types. Apart from the addition of an engine and propeller, there was little to distinguish them from their sail- and oar-powered predecessors. The engines in the early motor types were regarded almost as an auxiliary and the boats, which had an open deck with end boxes, retained sails and oars. Engines from Tylor, Blake and Wolseley were used, although the Tylor was the most satisfactory and the two Blake-engined boats were re-engined with Tylors in 1914. Power output of the Tylors was which gave a speed of around seven knots.
ON Name Built Stations Length Comments565John Ryburn1908 1909–1915 x lifeboat, legacy of Mr McCunn, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 40-hp Blake petrol engine, costing £3,183. Re-engined 40-hp Tylor, 1914. Sold February 1935.Renamed Vigilant, later Bembo. Yacht at Caernarfon in 2003, reported derelict 2011, acquired by Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust for restoration as John Ryburn in 2013, but broken up in 2015 at Cody Dock, Canning Town, where the bow section remains, Sept 2025. 1915–1920 Peterhead No.2 1921–1935 560Maria1909 x lifeboat, gift of Miss M. Clarke, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 40-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £2,345. Sold in 1932. 1922–1929 1930–1931 1931 595William and Laura1910 1910–1932 x lifeboat, legacy of Miss A. W. Clarke-Hall, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 40-hp Blake petrol engine, costing £4,508. Re-engined 40-hp Tylor, 1914. Sold in 1935.Renamed Libo. Last reported in Barnstaple in the 1940s. 1932–1935 602 Elliot Galer 1910 1911–1936 x lifeboat, legacy of Mr E. Galer, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 34-hp Wolseley petrol engine, costing £3,564. Sold in 1936.Renamed Quest. Wrecked on passage to Milford Haven in the 1980s. 603 Helen Smitton 1910 1911–1936 x lifeboat, legacy of Mr Hodge and his legatees, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 34-hp Wolseley petrol engine, costing £3,563. Sold in 1936.Renamed Paloma. Under restoration as Helen Smitton at Milford Haven, December 2024.620William MacPherson1912 1912–1929 x lifeboat, gift of Mrs MacPherson, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 60-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £3,423. Sold September 1940. Renamed Carn Ingli. Broken up at Marsaxlokk, Malta, November 1999. 1930 Aldeburgh No.2 1931–1940 621Frederick Kitchen1913 1914–1945 x lifeboat, legacy of Mr F. Kitchen, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 60-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £3,727. Shelter added, 1928. Sold 1948.Renamed Lady Pat, Jackie Maxwell, Herring Queen and Ballyheo Dream. Hull to be used as a canopy at the Heritage Pavilion, Cody Dock, Canning Town, December 2025. 1945–1948 Relief fleet 622 Alexander Tulloch 1912 1912–1914 Peterhead No.2 x lifeboat, legacy of Miss J. Tulloch, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, with a single 60-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £3,437.Wrecked on service with three crew lost, 26 December 1914.651Samuel Oakes1918 1919–1923 x lifeboat, legacy of Mrs Laing, part built by Summers and Payne of Southampton, completed by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with a single 40-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £7,156. Sold January 1933.Renamed Esmee, later Grey Gull. Destroyed by fire at Rochester, Kent, 1980. 1924–1929 1929–1933 677 Prince David 1922 1922–1937 x lifeboat, gift of the Welsh LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with a single 45-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £8,019. Sold December 1937.681K. B. M.1922 1922–1949 x lifeboat, legacies of Mr Kirkhope, Mr Baily and Miss McInroy, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with a single 45-hp Tylor petrol engine, costing £8,119. Sold September 1952.Renamed Herbert Charles and Striker. Last reported under restoration as K. B. M. at Galway, November 2013. 1949–1952 Relief fleet
45ft Watson motor lifeboats The first standard class of Watson motor lifeboat was the 45ft Watson-class lifeboat. This began with the conversion in 1912 of Albert Edward (ON 463), a pulling and sailing lifeboat. Production began after World War I in 1919, continuing through to 1925. 22 boats were constructed, in service between 1912 and 1956, with Official Numbers in the range 463 to 695.See 45ft Watson-class lifeboat for fleet details.
45ft 6in Watson motor lifeboats A new design appeared in 1926, marking the transition from single-engine to twin-engine layout. The first two 45ft 6in Watson-class lifeboats were single motor, but the remainder were twin-engined. 23 boats were built between 1926 and 1935, with Official Numbers in the range 698 to 775.See 45ft 6in Watson-class lifeboat for fleet details.
40ft 6in Watson motor lifeboats A small series of single-engine boats were built in 1929, the precursor of the twin engine type of 1933, with an beam, narrower than the later boats. The boats resembled scaled down versions of the contemporary design, with a small shelter ahead of the aft cockpit, and the exhaust funnel in front of it. All were built by J. Samuel White at Cowes, and were powered by a 50-bhp Weyburn CE4 4-cylinder petrol engine, driving a single propeller. They served until the mid-1950s.
ON Name Built Stations Comments721Lady Kylsant1929 x lifeboat, gift of the Royal Mail and the Union Castle Steamship Co., built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with a single 50-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £5,865. Sold in 1956.Renamed Kylsant. Broken up at Peel, Isle of Man, March 2003. 1930–1937 1937–1956 722J. and W.1929 1929–1937 x lifeboat, legacies of Mrs Calquhoun and Mrs Ashton, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with a single 50-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,052. Sold May 1957.Renamed LL68 and Amethyst. Last reported under restoration as J. and W. at Ancroft near Berwick-upon-Tweed, October 2018. 1937–1940 Relief fleet 1940–1957 723 Sir David Richmond of Glasgow 1929 1929–1955 x lifeboat, legacy of Lady Richmond and gift of Mrs Fairlie, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with a single 50-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £5,878. Sold June 1956.Renamed Aber Girl (AB 52). Last reported as a fishing boat at Aberystwyth, June 1973. 724 G. W. 1929 1930–1956 x lifeboat, legacies of Dr. Richards and Mrs Scott, and gift from Northampton LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with a single 50-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £5,886. Sold May 1956.Renamed Storm Siren. Under restoration as G. W. at Donaghadee, December 2025.
41ft Watson motor lifeboats The 41ft Watson-class lifeboat was the first of the twin-engined medium-sized boats, intended for stations unable to accommodate the larger types. A total of nine were built between 1932 and 1939, with a further four constructed between 1948 and 1952. The 13 lifeboats were in service from 1933 until 1978 (Cloughey-Portavogie, with two continuing in the Relief fleet until 1981/82. Official Numbers are in the range 751 to 897.See 41ft Watson-class lifeboat for fleet details.
46ft Watson motor lifeboats 1936 saw the next development of the large Watson, the 46ft Watson-class lifeboat, which saw the introduction of diesel engines, following advancements in lightweight units. 4 of the first 5 had petrol engines, but the fourth was given the new build diesel-engines, and this led the way for the remaining boats. 28 lifeboats were built, not including two which were destroyed whilst under construction, in an air raid on the Groves & Guttridge yard at Cowes in 1942. Four were constructed with a shallow draft, specific to the local requirements. Production continued until 1946, with the one at being withdrawn in 1981. Official Numbers are in the range 777 to 848.See 46ft Watson-class lifeboat for fleet details.
46ft 9in Watson motor lifeboats The 46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat was the first post World War II new design Watson lifeboat, built in 1947. The first 5 resembled the pre-war type, but from 1948, a major redesign resulted in a new superstructure, with midships steering and a large aft cabin. 28 were built between 1947 and 1956. Greater London II (Civil Service No.30) was withdrawn from in 1989. Official Numbers in the range 849 to 932.See 46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat for fleet details.
42ft Watson motor lifeboats A new 42ft Watson-class lifeboat in 1954 was intended for stations unable to accommodate larger types but needing something bigger than a carriage launched type, and replaced the design dating from 1933. Three were constructed as a 'Beach version', with a stronger heavier hull. This design introduced the use of commercial diesel engines rather than the RNLI's own designs. 10 lifeboats were built between 1954 and 1962, the last on station being J. W. Archer (ON 933) at . Official Numbers in the range 907 to 967.See 42ft Watson-class lifeboat for fleet details.
47ft Watson motor lifeboats