# Barnett-class lifeboat

The Barnett-class lifeboat consists of three types of non self-righting displacement hull lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1923 and 1987.

## 60 ft Barnett
### History

The 60 ft (18.3 m) Barnett was the first twin-engined, twin-screw RNLI lifeboat, and when introduced in 1923, the largest. Designed by RNLI naval architect James Rennie Barnett, the boats pioneered many features which were to become standard on future lifeboats. They were, however too large to be slipway launched and had to be moored afloat at a time when the RNLI preferred to keep lifeboats in boathouses and consequently, only four were built.

### Description

The boats had an open aft cockpit with a shelter ahead of it. The engines were in separate watertight engines rooms with exhaust taken up two side by side funnels amidships. There were fore and aft survivor cabins below deck. The boats were powered by two RNLI designed 80 bhp DE6 6-cylinder petrol engines, three built by Weyburn Engineering and the other by J. Samuel White. The final boat was 61 ft (18.6 m) long due to a forward raked bow. The boats served their stations well until the early fifties when they were replaced by 52 ft Barnetts.

### Fleet

| ON | Name | Built | Builder | In service | Station | Comments |
| 682 | William and Kate Johnston | 1923 | J. Samuel White | 1923–1950 | New Brighton | Sold December 1950. Reported in August 2022 to be a pleasure boat at Dover Marina. |
| 693 | Emma Constance | 1926 | S. E. Saunders | 1926–1951 | Aberdeen No.1 | Sold November 1951. Renamed Griselda. By December 2021 was an open hull aground at Keils House, Tayvallich, Argyll. |
| 696 | Robert & Marcella Beck | 1926 | J. Samuel White | 1926–1943 | Plymouth | Sold June 1952. Renamed Blaskbeg Idle Hours. Reported in May 2008 as being a pleasure boat on the River Elbe in Hamburg. |
| 696 | Robert & Marcella Beck | 1926 | J. Samuel White | 1943–1947 | Iceland (RN) | Sold June 1952. Renamed Blaskbeg Idle Hours. Reported in May 2008 as being a pleasure boat on the River Elbe in Hamburg. |
| 696 | Robert & Marcella Beck | 1926 | J. Samuel White | 1947–1952 | Plymouth | Sold June 1952. Renamed Blaskbeg Idle Hours. Reported in May 2008 as being a pleasure boat on the River Elbe in Hamburg. |
| 715 | Princess Mary | 1929 | S. E. Saunders | 1929–1952 | Padstow (Harbour) | Sold June 1952. Renamed Aries. Reported in October 2022 to be a yacht at Ibiza. |

## 51 ft Barnett
### History

The 60 ft Barnett was too large and heavy to be slipway launched and so the 51 ft (15.5 m) type was designed as a scaled down version which would be able to be stationed at a greater number of locations. The class is sometimes referred to as the "Stromness" after the first station to receive one.

### Description

The 51 ft Barnett had an open aft cockpit with a shelter ahead of it giving access to the engine room. Ahead of the engine room was a survivor cabin and there was a forward shelter ahead of the mast. The class was powered by two 60 bhp Weyburn CE6 6-cylinder petrol engines with a single exhaust funnel ahead of the aft shelter.
The final boat of the class, RNLB Southern Africa (ON 860), was built in 1949, fourteen years after the end of regular production, and was more akin in deck layout to the first five 46ft 9in Watson-class boats built around the same time. This boat was powered by two 60 bhp Ferry VE6 6-cylinder diesels and was in effect a prototype for a post war production run of diesel powered boats. However, it was overtaken by events as James Barnett turned to midships cockpits and the new boats emerged as the 52 ft [15.8 m] class the following year. The only other 51 ft Watson to receive diesel engines was ON 755 which was re-engined with twin Ford based 65 bhp Parsons Barracuda diesels in 1965. In 1976, ON 860 also received Barracudas while serving in the relief fleet and this boat was the final member of the class in service when retired in 1981.

### Fleet

| ON | Name | Built | Builder | In service | Station | Comments |
| 702 | J.J.K.S.W. | 1928 | S. E. Saunders | 1928–1955 | Stromness | Sold 1965. Became a workboat named Jon Dee BS19. Broken up August 2000. |
| 702 | J.J.K.S.W. | 1928 | S. E. Saunders | 1955–1964 | Reserve fleet | Sold 1965. Became a workboat named Jon Dee BS19. Broken up August 2000. |
| 717 | A.E.D. | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1929–1950 | Holyhead | Sold 1957. By February 1992 it was working as a pleasure boat at Fuengirola, Spain. |
| 717 | A.E.D. | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1951–1957 | Valentia | Sold 1957. By February 1992 it was working as a pleasure boat at Fuengirola, Spain. |
| 718 | William and Harriot | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1929–1954 | Stornoway | Sold 1959. Broken up at Barry Docks in 1978. |
| 718 | William and Harriot | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1954–1959 | Reserve fleet | Sold 1959. Broken up at Barry Docks in 1978. |
| 719 | Queen Victoria | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1929–1940 | St Peter Port | Sold May 1958. Destroyed by a fire on the River Hamble in 1978. |
| 719 | Queen Victoria | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1940–1941 | Reserve fleet | Sold May 1958. Destroyed by a fire on the River Hamble in 1978. |
| 719 | Queen Victoria | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1941–1945 | Killybegs | Sold May 1958. Destroyed by a fire on the River Hamble in 1978. |
| 719 | Queen Victoria | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1945–1954 | St Peter Port | Sold May 1958. Destroyed by a fire on the River Hamble in 1978. |
| 719 | Queen Victoria | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1954–1958 | Reserve fleet | Sold May 1958. Destroyed by a fire on the River Hamble in 1978. |
| 720 | City of Glasgow | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1929–1953 | Campbeltown | Sold 1959. Last reported as yacht at Barry Docks but destroyed in the 1970s. |
| 720 | City of Glasgow | 1929 | J. Samuel White | 1953–1959 | Reserve fleet | Sold 1959. Last reported as yacht at Barry Docks but destroyed in the 1970s. |
| 731 | Lady Jane & Martha Ryland | 1930 | J. Samuel White | 1930–1958 | Lerwick | Sold 1969. Renamed The Lady Jane. Reported in March 2022 to be at the Old Mill Boatyard, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 731 | Lady Jane & Martha Ryland | 1930 | J. Samuel White | 1958–1969 | Reserve | Sold 1969. Renamed The Lady Jane. Reported in March 2022 to be at the Old Mill Boatyard, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 733 | Mary Stanford | 1930 | Saunders-Roe | 1930–1959 | Ballycotton | Sold 1969. By December 2022 it was restored and on display, at Cliff Walk, Ballycotton, Ireland. |
| 733 | Mary Stanford | 1930 | Saunders-Roe | 1959–1968 | Reserve fleet | Sold 1969. By December 2022 it was restored and on display, at Cliff Walk, Ballycotton, Ireland. |
| 734 | George Shee | 1930 | Saunders-Roe | 1930–1958 | Torbay | Sold December 1958. Used as a lifeboat in Guatemala from 1959. |
| 734 | George Shee | 1930 | Saunders-Roe | 1958 | Reserve fleet | Sold December 1958. Used as a lifeboat in Guatemala from 1959. |
| 735 | William and Clara Ryland | 1930 | Saunders-Roe | 1930–1957 | Weymouth | Sold 1958. In December 2020 it was a houseboat at Hundred of Hoo Sailing Club, Hoo Peninsula, but in December 2023 it was reported as sunk at its mooring. |
| 754 | Lloyds | 1932 | Groves & Guttridge | 1932–1957 | Barra Island | Sold January 1970. In June 2022 it was at Sandwich Marina in Kent. |
| 754 | Lloyds | 1932 | Groves & Guttridge | 1957–1969 | Reserve fleet | Sold January 1970. In June 2022 it was at Sandwich Marina in Kent. |
| 755 | Peter and Sarah Blake | 1932 | J. Samuel White | 1932–1958 | Fenit | Sold October 1972. In May 2022 it was undergoing restoration at Fox's Marina, Ipswich. |
| 755 | Peter and Sarah Blake | 1932 | J. Samuel White | 1958–1972 | Reserve fleet | Sold October 1972. In May 2022 it was undergoing restoration at Fox's Marina, Ipswich. |
| 776 | The Rankin | 1935 | Groves & Guttridge | 1935–1961 | Aith | Sold 1970. Renamed Perseverance. Reported in November 2022 to be working as a pleasure boat at Tipner Boating and Angling Club, Portsmouth. |
| 776 | The Rankin | 1935 | Groves & Guttridge | 1961–1969 | Reserve fleet | Sold 1970. Renamed Perseverance. Reported in November 2022 to be working as a pleasure boat at Tipner Boating and Angling Club, Portsmouth. |
| 860 | Southern Africa | 1949 | Rowhedge Ironworks | 1949–1967 | Dover | Sold July 1981. Reported in June 2022 as being used as a pleasure boat at the Clyde Boatyard, Glasgow. |
| 860 | Southern Africa | 1949 | Rowhedge Ironworks | 1967–1981 | Reserve fleet | Sold July 1981. Reported in June 2022 as being used as a pleasure boat at the Clyde Boatyard, Glasgow. |

## 52 ft Barnett (Mk. I)

| ON | Name | Built | Builder | In service | Station | Comments |
| 883 | Norman B Corlett | 1950 | J. Samuel White | 1950–1973 | New Brighton | Sold February 1982. Reported in December 2019 to be a houseboat for holiday letting at Coalisland, Northern Ireland. |
| 883 | Norman B Corlett | 1950 | J. Samuel White | 1973–1981 | Relief fleet | Sold February 1982. Reported in December 2019 to be a houseboat for holiday letting at Coalisland, Northern Ireland. |
| 884 | St.Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) | 1950 | J. Samuel White | 1950–1980 | Holyhead | Sold 1986. On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard since April 1996. |
| 884 | St.Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) | 1950 | J. Samuel White | 1980–1986 | Relief fleet | Sold 1986. On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard since April 1996. |
| 889 | Hilton Briggs | 1951 | J. Samuel White | 1951–1958 | Aberdeen No.1 | Sold July 1976. Reported in December 2022 as being lived on at Wapping Wharf, Bristol. |
| 889 | Hilton Briggs | 1951 | J. Samuel White | 1959–1969 | Fenit | Sold July 1976. Reported in December 2022 as being lived on at Wapping Wharf, Bristol. |
| 889 | Hilton Briggs | 1951 | J. Samuel White | 1969–1970 | Reserve fleet | Sold July 1976. Reported in December 2022 as being lived on at Wapping Wharf, Bristol. |
| 889 | Hilton Briggs | 1951 | J. Samuel White | 1970 | Longhope | Sold July 1976. Reported in December 2022 as being lived on at Wapping Wharf, Bristol. |
| 889 | Hilton Briggs | 1951 | J. Samuel White | 1970–1974 | Reserve fleet | Sold July 1976. Reported in December 2022 as being lived on at Wapping Wharf, Bristol. |
| 889 | Hilton Briggs | 1951 | J. Samuel White | 1974–1975 | Invergordon | Sold July 1976. Reported in December 2022 as being lived on at Wapping Wharf, Bristol. |
| 890 | Thomas Forehead & Mary Rowse | 1952 | J. Samuel White | 1952–1974 | Plymouth | Sold December 1982. Renamed Isle Ornsay. In December 2021 it was undergoing a refit at Port Penrhyn, Bangor. |
| 890 | Thomas Forehead & Mary Rowse | 1952 | J. Samuel White | 1974–1982 | Relief fleet | Sold December 1982. Renamed Isle Ornsay. In December 2021 it was undergoing a refit at Port Penrhyn, Bangor. |
| 898 | Joseph Hiram Chadwick | 1952 | J. Samuel White | 1952–1967 | Padstow (Harbour) | Sold April 1980. Reported in July 2022 to undergoing restoration at Goodchild Marine, Burgh Castle. Sold in May 2024 after being abandoned by previous owner at Goodchild Marine, currently being transported by the new owner to Sharpness Shipyard to undertake a thorough restoration. |
| 898 | Joseph Hiram Chadwick | 1952 | J. Samuel White | 1968–1977 | Galway Bay | Sold April 1980. Reported in July 2022 to undergoing restoration at Goodchild Marine, Burgh Castle. Sold in May 2024 after being abandoned by previous owner at Goodchild Marine, currently being transported by the new owner to Sharpness Shipyard to undertake a thorough restoration. |
| 898 | Joseph Hiram Chadwick | 1952 | J. Samuel White | 1977–1980 | Relief fleet | Sold April 1980. Reported in July 2022 to undergoing restoration at Goodchild Marine, Burgh Castle. Sold in May 2024 after being abandoned by previous owner at Goodchild Marine, currently being transported by the new owner to Sharpness Shipyard to undertake a thorough restoration. |
| 899 | City of Glasgow II | 1953 | J. Samuel White | 1953–1979 | Campbeltown | Sold April 1980. Reported in April 2021 as being at Titchmarsh Marina, Walton-on-the-Naze. |
| 912 | Euphrosyne Kendal | 1954 | J. Samuel White | 1954–1972 | St.Peter Port | Sold May 1983. Engines removed and broken up at Rushbrooke, County Cork, Ireland by 2015. |
| 912 | Euphrosyne Kendal | 1954 | J. Samuel White | 1973–1975 | Dunmore East | Sold May 1983. Engines removed and broken up at Rushbrooke, County Cork, Ireland by 2015. |
| 912 | Euphrosyne Kendal | 1954 | J. Samuel White | 1975–1983 | Relief fleet | Sold May 1983. Engines removed and broken up at Rushbrooke, County Cork, Ireland by 2015. |
| 913 | James & Margaret Boyd | 1954 | J. Samuel White | 1954–1973 | Stornoway | Sold January 1985. Renamed Sea Terror and a houseboat. Sunk at English Harbour, Antigua, on 10 December 2010. |
| 913 | James & Margaret Boyd | 1954 | J. Samuel White | 1974–1975 | Macduff | Sold January 1985. Renamed Sea Terror and a houseboat. Sunk at English Harbour, Antigua, on 10 December 2010. |
| 913 | James & Margaret Boyd | 1954 | J. Samuel White | 1975–1984 | Invergordon | Sold January 1985. Renamed Sea Terror and a houseboat. Sunk at English Harbour, Antigua, on 10 December 2010. |
| 923 | John Gellatly Hyndman | 1955 | J. Samuel White | 1955–1972 | Stronsay | Sold August 1985. Renamed Sea Terra. Reported to be operated as a pleasure boat at English Harbour, Antigua, in September 2022. |
| 923 | John Gellatly Hyndman | 1955 | J. Samuel White | 1972–1985 | Relief fleet | Sold August 1985. Renamed Sea Terra. Reported to be operated as a pleasure boat at English Harbour, Antigua, in September 2022. |
| 924 | Archibald and Alexander M Paterson | 1955 | J. Samuel White | 1955–1984 | Stromness | Sold May 1989. Reported in August 2021 to have been restored for use as a pleasure boat at Lawrenny Quay on the River Cleddau estuary in Wales. |
| 924 | Archibald and Alexander M Paterson | 1955 | J. Samuel White | 1985–1986 | Arranmore | Sold May 1989. Reported in August 2021 to have been restored for use as a pleasure boat at Lawrenny Quay on the River Cleddau estuary in Wales. |
| 924 | Archibald and Alexander M Paterson | 1955 | J. Samuel White | 1986–1987 | Lowestoft | Sold May 1989. Reported in August 2021 to have been restored for use as a pleasure boat at Lawrenny Quay on the River Cleddau estuary in Wales. |

## 52 ft Barnett (Mk. II)

| ON | Name | Built | Builder | In service | Station | Comments |
| 935 | R.A.Colby Cubbin No.3 | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1957–1984 | Barra Island | Sold November 1984. By June 2013 was a houseboat at City Marina, Rotterdam. |
| 936 | E.M.M. Gordon Cubbin | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1957–1982 | Mallaig | Sold 1985. Renamed Gordon Cubbin. Reported in March 2022 to be moored by the Tees Transporter Bridge. |
| 936 | E.M.M. Gordon Cubbin | 1957 | J. Samuel White | 1982–1985 | Relief fleet | Sold 1985. Renamed Gordon Cubbin. Reported in March 2022 to be moored by the Tees Transporter Bridge. |
| 938 | Rowland Watts | 1957 | Groves & Guttridge | 1957–1983 | Valentia | Sold 1985. By June 2020 was stored at Murphy Marine, Valentia Island, Ireland. |
| 938 | Rowland Watts | 1957 | Groves & Guttridge | 1983–1985 | Relief fleet | Sold 1985. By June 2020 was stored at Murphy Marine, Valentia Island, Ireland. |
| 939 | Frank Spiller Locke | 1957 | Groves & Guttridge | 1957–1976 | Weymouth | Sold October 1986. It is unaltered but used as a pleasure boat from Old Mill Boatyard, Old Mill Creek, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 939 | Frank Spiller Locke | 1957 | Groves & Guttridge | 1977–1985 | Galway Bay | Sold October 1986. It is unaltered but used as a pleasure boat from Old Mill Boatyard, Old Mill Creek, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 943 | Claude Cecil Staniforth | 1958 | Groves & Guttridge | 1958–1978 | Lerwick | Sold November 1985. Renamed Naomh Seosamh. Reported in December 2022 to be a pleasure boat at New Ross Boatyard, Wexford, Ireland. |
| 943 | Claude Cecil Staniforth | 1958 | Groves & Guttridge | 1978–1985 | Arranmore | Sold November 1985. Renamed Naomh Seosamh. Reported in December 2022 to be a pleasure boat at New Ross Boatyard, Wexford, Ireland. |
| 944 | Ramsay Dyce | 1958 | Groves & Guttridge | 1958–1976 | Aberdeen | Sold August 1985. . Reported in August 2022 to be working as a pleasure boat but unaltered at Glasson Dock in Lancashire. |
| 944 | Ramsay Dyce | 1958 | Groves & Guttridge | 1976–1978 | Relief fleet | Sold August 1985. . Reported in August 2022 to be working as a pleasure boat but unaltered at Glasson Dock in Lancashire. |
| 944 | Ramsay Dyce | 1958 | Groves & Guttridge | 1978–1985 | Lochinver | Sold August 1985. . Reported in August 2022 to be working as a pleasure boat but unaltered at Glasson Dock in Lancashire. |
| 945 | Princess Alexandra of Kent | 1958 | J. Samuel White | 1958–1975 | Torbay | Sold 1984. Renamed Princess but lost on 1 August 2012 off Crail in Scotland while on passage to Peterhead. |
| 945 | Princess Alexandra of Kent | 1958 | J. Samuel White | 1975–1983 | Relief fleet | Sold 1984. Renamed Princess but lost on 1 August 2012 off Crail in Scotland while on passage to Peterhead. |
| 949 | Ethel Mary | 1959 | Groves & Guttridge | 1959–1985 | Ballycotton | Last Barnett Class boat on station. Sold 1989. In December 2021 it was reported to be undergoing a survey at Coleraine, Northern Ireland. |
| 949 | Ethel Mary | 1959 | Groves & Guttridge | 1985–1987 | Relief fleet | Last Barnett Class boat on station. Sold 1989. In December 2021 it was reported to be undergoing a survey at Coleraine, Northern Ireland. |
| 949 | Ethel Mary | 1959 | Groves & Guttridge | 1987–1988 | Baltimore | Last Barnett Class boat on station. Sold 1989. In December 2021 it was reported to be undergoing a survey at Coleraine, Northern Ireland. |
| 952 | Duke of Cornwall (Civil Service No. 33) | 1960 | Groves & Guttridge | 1961–1984 | The Lizard | Sold 1989. Reported in December 2021 to be in unaltered condition but used as a pleasure boat at Old Mill Creek, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 952 | Duke of Cornwall (Civil Service No. 33) | 1960 | Groves & Guttridge | 1984 | Padstow | Sold 1989. Reported in December 2021 to be in unaltered condition but used as a pleasure boat at Old Mill Creek, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 952 | Duke of Cornwall (Civil Service No. 33) | 1960 | Groves & Guttridge | 1984–1989 | Relief fleet | Sold 1989. Reported in December 2021 to be in unaltered condition but used as a pleasure boat at Old Mill Creek, Dartmouth, Devon. |
| 956 | John and Frances MacFarlane | 1960 | J. Samuel White | 1961–1986 | Aith | Sold October 1986. Reported in September 2024 to be in unaltered condition but in use as a pleasure boat at Maldon, Essex. |
* 1 2 3 4 ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.