The Rother-class lifeboat was a self-righting lifeboat, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1972 and 1995. They were based on the Oakley-class lifeboat.

History The Rother-class was a development of the lifeboat, and like its predecessor, was primarily intended for carriage launching, although six of the 14 were assigned to slipway stations.

Design A major change was the abandonment of the Oakley's complicated water ballast self-righting system. The Rother achieved its self-righting ability from its extended watertight superstructure, and all had an enclosed wheelhouse, with the radar mounted on the roof.

Twin 52-hp diesel engines gave a maximum speed of , and at this speed, the range was around .

The boats built for and had strengthened hulls for beach launching over skids.

Retirement The Rother-class was the final displacement hull lifeboat produced by the RNLI. Even before production began, the RNLI had already started operating much faster lifeboats, like the , twice as fast at 15 knots. The 18.5 knot also commenced service in 1972. By 1983, a target date of 1993 had been set, for all 201 offshore stations to operate faster lifeboats, capable of at least 15 knots, with the majority at 17–18 knots. As a result, all the Rother-class lifeboats had a shorter than usual career, and none of the 14 built reached 20 years service life with the RNLI.

The RNLB James Cable (ON 1068), built in 1982, was the last displacement hull lifeboat in RNLI service, operating for just 11 years, before being withdrawn from in December 1993.

Two boats, Alice Upjohn (ON 1048) and James Cable (ON 1068) were sold to overseas rescue services in New Zealand and Uruguay, the latter operating until 2011 before being retired.

Fleet Note: Op No.s 37-01 to 37-26 were allocated to lifeboats, the Rother-class continuing the series from 37-27. ON Op. No. Name Built Station Launching method Comments99837-27Osman Gabriel1972 SlipwayGift of Maj. O. Gabriel, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Thornycroft '250' diesel engines, costing £60,000. Sold March 1993.Renamed Anita, last reported ashore at Dirhami, Estonia, July 2023. 1992–1993 Relief fleet 999 37-28 Diana White 1973 1973–1991 Slipway Anonymous gift, plus contribution from the Cornish Lifeboat Appeal, with twin 52-hp Thornycroft '250' diesel engines, costing £89,000. Sold 1992.Renamed Joseph Day, but by February 2017 it was awaiting restoration as Diana White on a farm at Mangatangi, New Zealand. Last reported stripped down and for sale, Katikati, New Zealand, January 2023.100037-29Mary Gabriel1973 1974–1990 CarriageGift of Maj. O. Gabriel, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Thornycroft '250' diesel engines, costing £90,000. Sold October 1992.Previously on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard, later a trip boat at Tenby (2020) and Scarborough (2022). Stored for restoration at Lea Valley Marina, October 2025. 1990–1992 Carriage102237-30Harold Salvesen1973 1974–1986 AfloatGift of The Salvesen Trust, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Thornycroft '250' diesel engines, costing £95,000. Sold October 1992.Private ownership at Milford Haven, January 2025. 1986–1992 Relief fleet 1992 Carriage 1023 37-31 J. Reginald Corah 1974 1975–1992 Slipway Gift of the J. Reginald Corah Foundation, built by Groves and Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 52-hp Thornycroft '250' diesel engines, costing £95,000. Sold June 1995.By June 2022, had been renamed Louise 2-G-B-H. At Guldborg, Denmark, October 2025.102437-32The Hampshire Rose1974 1975–1990 BeachGift of The Hampshire Rose appeal, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Thornycroft '250' diesel engines, costing £95,000. Sold October 1992.Trip boat at Ilfracombe, Devon, March 2025. 1990–1991 Relief fleet 1991 Afloat 1991–1992 Relief fleet 1046Silver Jubilee1977 1978–1991 CarriageGift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid '397' diesel engines, costing £105,000. Sold March 1994.Unaltered working pleasure boat at Yonkers Yacht Club, River Hudson, December 2025. 1991–1993 Relief fleet 104737-34Horace Clarkson1977 1977–1987 SlipwayGift of H. Clarkson and Co. Ltd., built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid '397' diesel engines, costing £107,000. Sold May 1993.Unaltered working pleasure boat at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, December 2025. 1987–1993 Relief fleet 104837-35Alice Upjohn1976 1977–1992 CarriageGift of Miss Upjohn, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid '397' diesel engines, costing £130,000. Sold 1995, named Ivan Talley Rescue at Greymouth, New Zealand. See below. 1992–1995 Relief fleet 105437-36Shoreline1979 1979–1982 SlipwayGift of The Shoreline Appeal, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid '397' diesel engines, costing £210,000. Sold February 1994.Renamed Porta Maggie, later Mairi Bhan. Private ownership at Banavie, Scotland, October 2025. 1982–1993 Slipway 1055 37-37 Duke of Kent 1982 1979–1993 Slipway Gift of The Eastbourne Lifeboat Appeal, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid '397' diesel engines, costing £210,000. Sold June 1995.Initially used as a survey boat at Tayport Harbour, pleasure boat by 2012. Returned to Eastbourne in 2017 for restoration, standing near the Inshore Lifeboat Station, December 2025. 106337-38Princess of Wales1982 1982–1992 CarriageGift of The Welsh Lifeboat Appeal, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid 'Melody' diesel engines, costing £239,197. Sold May 1993.Renamed Glow-worm. Unaltered condition, stored at Portraine, Dublin, December 2025. 1992–1993 Relief fleet 106437-39The Davys Family1981 1981–1986 SlipwayGift of Mrs Mason, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid 'Melody' diesel engines, costing £240,000. Sold July 1995. Renamed The Mary Heather, ashore as a holiday let on the Cuan Sound, Seil, Scotland, December 2025. 1986–1993 Relief fleet 1068 37-40 James Cable 1982 1982–1993 Beach Gift of The Aldeburgh Lifeboat Appeal, built by William Osborne of Littlehampton, with twin 52-hp Mermaid 'Melody' diesel engines, costing £246,000. Sold August 1994.Renamed ADES 13 Agustin Carlevaro with ADES Uruguay. See below.

Other fleets RNLI ON Name Built Station Comments 1048 1977 1995–2007 Sold 2008.Private ownership as Alice Upjohn, Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand, January 2024. 1068 1982 1995–2011 Montevideo, Uruguay Sold 2011.Renamed Nauti II. Workboat at Montevideo, May 2022.

See also Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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External links

RNLI