# 47ft Watson-class lifeboat

The 47 ft Watson-class was a class of non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built from 1955 to 1963 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1956 and 1991.

## History

The 47 ft Watson was the final development of the basic hull design laid out by George Lennox Watson in the late nineteenth century and was designed by James Barnett. They were the final Watson type boats to be built and survived in service almost to the end of the displacement hull era. The prototype, Dunnet Head (Civil Service No.31) (ON 920), was built in 1955 and was placed on station at Thurso in January 1956. Unfortunately, on 10 December 1956, the boathouse at Thurso caught fire and both it and the lifeboat inside were destroyed. No further 47 ft Watsons were built during 1956 and production of the 46 ft 9in Watson continued during that year. Production of the new type resumed in 1957, with the first being a replacement boat for Thurso, still Civil Service no.31, but named Pentland. Production continued until 1963 when large displacement hull development turned to the self-righting 48 ft 6in Oakley-class and later Solent-class.

## Description

Compared to the preceding 46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat, the new boats had a hull extended by 3 inches in both length and beam. The wheelhouse was fully enclosed with sliding doors on either side and there were bulwarks above the fenders fore and aft and, from the second boat, the forward cabin was increased in size. As with the previous year's 42ft Watson-class, the boats were powered by commercial diesel engines rather than the RNLI designed units used previously. In this case, two 60 bhp Gardner 5LW five cylinder diesels were fitted with the exhaust being taken up the mast as on the later 46 ft 9in boats. As built, the boats had line aerials rigged from the forward mast to a pole mast aft of the rear cabin. During their careers, this rig was replaced by twin pole aerials and the aft mast was removed. Radar was fitted on a bracket on the port side of the rear cabin roof (some had it fitted to the wheelhouse roof). From 1973, the boats were modified to become self-righting by, in most cases, the fitting of an air bag on the starboard side of the rear cabin roof, adjacent to the radar. This gave a once only self-righting ability which was successfully deployed when Salcombe's The Baltic Exchange capsized on service in 1983. Six boats were rebuilt with larger forward and aft superstructures (akin to the 48 ft 6in Oakley and Solent classes) which made them inherently self-righting. In these boats the masts were removed and the exhaust outlets were on the side of the hull. The engines in these six were uprated to 70 bhp and these modified boats were the longest lasting of the type, all but one serving into the 1990s.

## Fleet

| ON | Name | Built | Builder | In service | Stations | Comments |
| 920 | Dunnet Head (Civil Service No.31) | 1955 | William Osbourne | 1956 | Thurso | Destroyed by fire in boathouse on 10 December 1956. |
| 940 | Pentland (Civil Service No.31) | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1957–1970 | Thurso | Modified to be self-righting from 1974. Sold March 1991. In June 2022 was reported to be in unaltered condition working as a pleasure boat at Milford Haven Marina. |
| 940 | Pentland (Civil Service No.31) | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1970–1974 | Relief fleet | Modified to be self-righting from 1974. Sold March 1991. In June 2022 was reported to be in unaltered condition working as a pleasure boat at Milford Haven Marina. |
| 940 | Pentland (Civil Service No.31) | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1974–1985 | The Mumbles | Modified to be self-righting from 1974. Sold March 1991. In June 2022 was reported to be in unaltered condition working as a pleasure boat at Milford Haven Marina. |
| 940 | Pentland (Civil Service No.31) | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1986–1990 | Workington | Modified to be self-righting from 1974. Sold March 1991. In June 2022 was reported to be in unaltered condition working as a pleasure boat at Milford Haven Marina. |
| 947 | Margaret | 1958 | Groves & Guttridge | 1959–1986 | Dunbar | Sold in 1987. Renamed Theo, sunk at Rathmullan, Ireland, in 2006. |
| 950 | Kathleen Mary | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1959–1977 | Newhaven | Modified to be self-righting from 1978. Sold April 1990. Renamed Katie May. Reported in December 2020 to be a pleasure boat but in unaltered condition at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. |
| 950 | Kathleen Mary | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1977–1979 | Relief fleet | Modified to be self-righting from 1978. Sold April 1990. Renamed Katie May. Reported in December 2020 to be a pleasure boat but in unaltered condition at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. |
| 950 | Kathleen Mary | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1979–1987 | Porthdinllaen | Modified to be self-righting from 1978. Sold April 1990. Renamed Katie May. Reported in December 2020 to be a pleasure boat but in unaltered condition at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. |
| 950 | Kathleen Mary | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1987–1988 | Appledore | Modified to be self-righting from 1978. Sold April 1990. Renamed Katie May. Reported in December 2020 to be a pleasure boat but in unaltered condition at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. |
| 951 | Francis K. Wotherspoon of Paisley | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1959–1979 | Islay | Sold October 1986. Reported in December 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat in Douglas, Isle of Man. |
| 951 | Francis K. Wotherspoon of Paisley | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1979–1981 | Relief fleet | Sold October 1986. Reported in December 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat in Douglas, Isle of Man. |
| 951 | Francis K. Wotherspoon of Paisley | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1981 | Fishguard | Sold October 1986. Reported in December 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat in Douglas, Isle of Man. |
| 951 | Francis K. Wotherspoon of Paisley | 1959 | William Osbourne | 1982–1986 | Workington | Sold October 1986. Reported in December 2022 to be in unaltered condition but working as a pleasure boat in Douglas, Isle of Man. |
| 953 | Sarah Jane and James Season | 1960 | Groves & Guttridge | 1960–1986 | Teesmouth | Sold in 1989. Renamed Manx Voyager. Reported in December 2021 to be at Ramsey, Isle of Man in unaltered condition. |
| 953 | Sarah Jane and James Season | 1960 | Groves & Guttridge | 1986–1988 | Shoreham Harbour | Sold in 1989. Renamed Manx Voyager. Reported in December 2021 to be at Ramsey, Isle of Man in unaltered condition. |
| 954 | Solomon Browne | 1960 | William Osbourne | 1960–1981 | Penlee | Wrecked on service 19 December 1981. Eight crew lost. |
| 955 | The Robert | 1960 | William Osbourne | 1960–1978 | Broughty Ferry | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold February 1992. Reported in November 2022 as being in unaltered condition as a pleasure boat at Kingswear in Devon. |
| 955 | The Robert | 1960 | William Osbourne | 1978–1984 | Baltimore | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold February 1992. Reported in November 2022 as being in unaltered condition as a pleasure boat at Kingswear in Devon. |
| 955 | The Robert | 1960 | William Osbourne | 1985–1988 | Lytham St Annes | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold February 1992. Reported in November 2022 as being in unaltered condition as a pleasure boat at Kingswear in Devon. |
| 955 | The Robert | 1960 | William Osbourne | 1989–1991 | Beaumaris | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold February 1992. Reported in November 2022 as being in unaltered condition as a pleasure boat at Kingswear in Devon. |
| 957 | The Jeanie | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1961–1986 | Portpatrick | Sold in 1987. Renamed Jeanie Brandon. Reported in October 2017 to be unaltered but used as a pleasure boat on the River Danube near the Rhine Canal. |
| 958 | Laura Moncur | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1961–1984 | Buckie | Modified to be self-righting from 1972. Sold November 1988. By December 2022 it had been restored as a pleasure boat at Blakeney, Norfolk. |
| 958 | Laura Moncur | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1984–1986 | Relief fleet | Modified to be self-righting from 1972. Sold November 1988. By December 2022 it had been restored as a pleasure boat at Blakeney, Norfolk. |
| 958 | Laura Moncur | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1986–1987 | Appledore | Modified to be self-righting from 1972. Sold November 1988. By December 2022 it had been restored as a pleasure boat at Blakeney, Norfolk. |
| 958 | Laura Moncur | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1987–1988 | Relief fleet | Modified to be self-righting from 1972. Sold November 1988. By December 2022 it had been restored as a pleasure boat at Blakeney, Norfolk. |
| 959 | Helen Wycherley | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1961–1969 | Whitehills | Sold December 1988. Reported in June 2022 to be at Whitby, North Yorkshire. |
| 959 | Helen Wycherley | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1969–1987 | Courtmacsherry Harbour | Sold December 1988. Reported in June 2022 to be at Whitby, North Yorkshire. |
| 959 | Helen Wycherley | 1961 | Groves & Guttridge | 1987–1988 | Relief fleet | Sold December 1988. Reported in June 2022 to be at Whitby, North Yorkshire. |
| 962 | T.G.B. | 1962 | J. Samuel White | 1962–1969 | Longhope | Capsized on service at Longhope 17 March 1969, eight crew lost. Sold in 1986. On display at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine since July 1986. |
| 962 | T.G.B. | 1962 | J. Samuel White | 1969–1978 | Arranmore | Capsized on service at Longhope 17 March 1969, eight crew lost. Sold in 1986. On display at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine since July 1986. |
| 962 | T.G.B. | 1962 | J. Samuel White | 1978–1985 | Relief fleet | Capsized on service at Longhope 17 March 1969, eight crew lost. Sold in 1986. On display at the Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine since July 1986. |
| 963 | A.M.T. | 1962 | J. Samuel White | 1962–1986 | Howth | Sold June 1989. Renamed Amity. In December 2021 it was reported to still be in unaltered condition and working as a pleasure boat at Quay Lane Boatyard, Gosport. |
| 963 | A.M.T. | 1962 | J. Samuel White | 1986–1989 | Relief fleet | Sold June 1989. Renamed Amity. In December 2021 it was reported to still be in unaltered condition and working as a pleasure boat at Quay Lane Boatyard, Gosport. |
| 964 | The Baltic Exchange | 1962 | J. Samuel White | 1962–1988 | Salcombe | Capsized on service 10 April 1983, righted by air bag. Sold in 1989. Reported in December 2022 as being in unaltered condition and in use as a pleasure boat at Blyth, Northumberland. |
| 965 | Louisa Anne Hawker | 1962 | Groves & Guttridge | 1962–1986 | Appledore | Sold August 1987. By November 2019 it was in use as a pleasure boat in unaltered condition at Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. |
| 969 | William Myers and Sarah Jane Myers | 1963 | J. Samuel White | 1963–1990 | Sunderland | Modified to be self-righting from 1975. Sold in 1992. Renamed D'ouwe Draeck. Last reported in July 2016 on the River Vecht between Weesp and Muiden in the Netherlands. |
| 969 | William Myers and Sarah Jane Myers | 1963 | J. Samuel White | 1990–1992 | Relief fleet | Modified to be self-righting from 1975. Sold in 1992. Renamed D'ouwe Draeck. Last reported in July 2016 on the River Vecht between Weesp and Muiden in the Netherlands. |
| 970 | Frederick Edward Crick | 1963 | J. Samuel White | 1963–1986 | Lowestoft | Sold October 1986. In November 2019 it was reported to be in storage on the River Yonne, at Migennes in France. |
| 971 | Joseph Soar (Civil Service No.34) | 1963 | J. Samuel White | 1963–1985 | St Davids | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold August 1992. Reported in December 2022 to be a pleasure boat in unaltered condition at Coleraine in Northern Ireland. |
| 971 | Joseph Soar (Civil Service No.34) | 1963 | J. Samuel White | 1986–1988 | Dunbar | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold August 1992. Reported in December 2022 to be a pleasure boat in unaltered condition at Coleraine in Northern Ireland. |
| 971 | Joseph Soar (Civil Service No.34) | 1963 | J. Samuel White | 1988–1990 | Shoreham Harbour | Modified to be self-righting from 1976. Sold August 1992. Reported in December 2022 to be a pleasure boat in unaltered condition at Coleraine in Northern Ireland. |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.