A C-class lifeboat usually refers to the Zodiac Grand Raid Mark IVs lifeboats, powered by twin 40 hp outboard motors, manufactured by Zodiac Marine & Pool of France, and which were operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
They were initially designated as D-class lifeboats, starting a series of boats numbered from D-500, but this was subsequently changed to C-class, to signify the difference between the twin engine C-class and the single engine D-class.
In 1970, the first lifeboats to be classed as C-class were twin engine RIBs, which were developed to be the Atlantic series lifeboats, and were re-designated B-Class. C-1 was renumbered as B-3, C-2 became B-4 etc.
The C-class Zodiac Grand Raid IV was replaced by both the and the inshore lifeboats.
Fleet Op. No. Name Station CommentsB-3 1970 Formerly C-1 1971 B-4 1971–1974 Formerly C-2 1974–1976 1978 B-5 1972–1974 Formerly C-3 1976–1978 B-6 1973 Formerly C-4 1974–1976 B-7 1974 Formerly C-5 1981–1984 Tynemouth BBB-8 1975 1977 D-500 1972–1974 Trials 1974–1979 1979–1981 Relief fleet D-501 – Trials onlyC-502John Gilpin 1973–1975 TrialsFormerly D-502 1975–1977 1977–1983 Relief fleet 1983–1985 Boarding Boat 1985–1988 C-503 1973–1977 TrialsFormerly D-503 1977–1979 1979–1983 Training fleet 1983–1987 Boarding BoatC-504 1973–1978 TrialsFormerly D-504 1978–1987 Inshore Lifeboat CentreC-505 1979–1986 Formerly D-505 1986–1987 1987 Relief fleet 1987–1989 1990 Arran (Lamlash)C-506 1980–1986 Formerly D-506 1987–1988 Arran (Lamlash) 1988–1993 Relief fleet 1993–1997 Boarding BoatC-507 1981–1988 Formerly D-507 1988–1990 Relief fleetC-508The Chris Pirson 1981–1992 Relief fleetFormerly D-508 1992–1996 Boarding BoatC-509Oats 1983–1993 Formerly D-509 1993–1994 Relief fleet 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 Relief fleetC-510 1983–1991 Formerly D-510 1991–1995 Relief fleetC-511 1984–1994 Formerly D-511 1994–1996 Relief fleet 1996–2008 Boarding BoatC-512 1984–1991 Formerly D-512 1991–1996 Relief fleetC-513Sebag of Jersey 1984–1990 1990–1993 Relief fleet 1993 1993–1996 Relief fleet 1997– Boarding BoatC-514 1985–1995 1995–1997 Relief fleet 1997–1998 1998 Inshore Lifeboat CentreC-515 1985–1995 1995 Inshore Lifeboat CentreC-516 1986–1995 1995–1996 Relief fleetC-517 1986–1996 1996–1997 Relief fleet 1997–2008 Boarding Boat C-518 1987–1997 C-519Thomas Corbett 1987–1995 1995–1996 Relief fleet 1996–1997 C-520 1988–1996 Relief fleet 1996–1999 Boarding Boat C-521 Prince of Arran 1988–1998 Arran (Lamlash)C-522 1989–1997 Private ownership, Clifden, Ireland, August 2024. 1997 Boarding Boat 1998–???? PublicityBritish Diver IV 1990–1991 Relief fleet 1991–1993 1993–1994 Relief fleet 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 Relief fleet
See also Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
References
External links RNLI Fleet