# Solent-class lifeboat

The Solent-class lifeboat is a steel-hulled version of the 48-foot-6-inch (14.78 m) Oakley-class self-righting lifeboat and is sometimes referred to as the 48-foot, 6-inch Oakley-class Mark III. Solent Operational Numbers followed on from the first three 48-foot, 6-inch Oakleys and were interrupted by the last two Oakleys (48-12 and 48-13). The operational numbers of the Solent-class had three digits in the suffix to indicate a metal hull (as with Clyde, Waveney, Thames and Tyne classes, one Arun class and the first eleven Merseys). Two digits indicates a wooden, glass-reinforced plastic or fiber-reinforced composite hull.

## Description

The Solent was powered by twin 110 bhp Gardner 6LX diesel engines which gave the boat a top speed of 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph). There were twin spade rudders installed which were coupled to Mathway manual steering gear.
Apart from the steel hull, the Solent-class differed from the Oakley-class in its self-righting mechanism. The Oakley used a water ballast system, while the Solent class was self-righting as a result of its watertight superstructure. The Solent was the last class of traditional displacement-type lifeboats designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
There were two versions of the Solent, unofficially known as "Mark I" and "Mark II". The "Mark I" boats have a vertical steering wheel. Sliding doors provide access to the forward end of the wheelhouse on each side. The "Mark II" boats have a seated steering position with hinged wheelhouse doors at the after end of the wheelhouse. These boats entered service in 1972.
The first four Solent-class boats (ON 1007-1010) and the last three (ON 1019-1021) were built at Cowes by Groves & Guttridge. The second four (ON 1011-1014) were built at Gosport by Camper & Nicholson.

## Fleet

| ON | Op. No. | Name | Built | In service | Principal Station | Comments |
| 1007 | 48-004 | George Urie Scott | 1969 | 1969–1978 1979–1984 1985–1989 1989–1990 | Lochinver Rosslare Harbour Lochinver Relief fleet | Sold 1990. November 2022, Renamed Highlander, Ameland, NL |
| 1008 | 48-005 | James and Mariska Joicey | 1969 | 1969–1986 1987–1988 1988–1990 | Peterhead The Lizard Relief fleet | Sold 1990. Restored 2014–2021. December 2022, at Restonguet Creek, Mylor, Cornwall. |
| 1009 | 48-006 | Jack Shayler and the Lees | 1970 | 1970–1987 1988 1989 1989–1993 | Bembridge Dunbar Wicklow Relief fleet | Sold June 1994. Renamed Anne, SAR Tallinn, Estonia. Broken up 2021. |
| 1010 | 48-007 | David and Elizabeth King and E.B. | 1970 | 1970–1988 1988–1989 1989–1990 | Longhope Invergordon Relief fleet | Sold 1990. August 2022, Private Ownership, Unaltered, Glasson Dock, Lancashire |
| 1011 | 48-008 | R. Hope Roberts | 1969 | 1969–1978 1979–1985 1985–1987 1987 1987–1993 | Rosslare Harbour Fraserburgh Galway Bay Relief fleet Courtmacsherry Harbour | Sold 1993. October 2019, Renamed Sea Guardian, Private ownership, Gold Coast City Marina, Queensland, Aus. |
| 1012 | 48-009 | City of Birmingham | 1970 | 1970–1983 1984–1993 1993–1994 | Exmouth Walton and Frinton Relief fleet | Sold July 1995 to ADES Uruguay ADES 14. Retired 2014. |
| 1013 | 48-010 | The Royal British Legion Jubilee | 1970 | 1970–1978 1979–1979 1979–1986 1986–1988 1988–1990 | Relief Fleet Fraserburgh Relief fleet Peterhead Relief fleet | Sold April 1990. Named Ocean Jubilee, restored in Wakefield. Renamed The Royal British Legion Jubilee, Broken up in Knottingley, 2020. |
| 1014 | 48-011 | The Three Sisters | 1970 | 1970–1988 1988–1989 1989–1990 | Thurso Wicklow Relief fleet | Sold April 1990. October 2018, Heavily converted cruiser at Turnchapel, Plymouth |
| 1019 | 48-014 | Lady MacRobert | 1972 | 1972–1989 1989–1993 | Montrose Relief fleet | Sold March 1994 to ADES Uruguay ADES 12. Retired 2021. |
| 1020 | 48-015 | Hugh William Viscount Gough | 1973 | 1973–1984 1984–1988 1988–1993 | Stornoway Barra Island Dunbar | Sold September 1993. September 2021, Unaltered pleasure boat, Puteri Harbour Marina, Johur Baharu, Malaysia |
| 1021 | 48-016 | Douglas Currie | 1973 | 1973–1974 1974–1975 1975–1984 1985 1986–1989 1990–1992 | Relief fleet Kirkwall Macduff Fraserburgh Portpatrick Workington | Sold 1992. March 2022, Unaltered, private ownership, Fraserburgh, Scotland |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.