The Ramsgate-class motor lifeboat was a special design produced by the RNLI for three stations covering the Thames estuary and required to operate in shallow waters.
History Designed at a time when the RNLI was happy to build special boats for the particular needs of individual stations, the Ramsgate-class (named after the first station to operate one) was essentially an amalgam of and design principles intended for the shallow waters of the Thames estuary.
The first boat, RNLB Prudential (ON 697), was long and single engined. The other two were longer and twin engined. All three had long careers at their respective stations but when they were replaced between 1953 and 1955, it was with standard 46ft 9in Watson boats.
Description The first Ramsgate was an open design with no cockpits and low end boxes. Powered by a single 80-bhp Weyburn built DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine driving a single screw, the boat retained an auxiliary sailing rig as well as six oars.
The other two boats were substantially redesigned, being longer and powered by two 40-bhp Weyburn built CE4 4-cylinder petrol engines driving twin screws. The sailing rig was much reduced and the boats had a shelter ahead of the cockpit covering the engine controls. Just ahead of this was a funnel for engine exhaust.
Fleet ON Name Built Station Comments 697 Prudential 1925 1925–1953 Gift of Prudential Assurance Co., built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with a single 80-hp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl petrol engine, costing £8,417. Sold November 1953.Renamed Trimilia, at Ipswich Haven Marina, October 2023.704Greater London1928 1928–1941 Gift of the Civil Service Lifeboat Fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl petrol engines, costing £8,668. Sold September 1957.Renamed ADES 1 Francisco Alvarez with ADES Uruguay. See below. 1941–1945 Reserve fleet 1945–1955 1955–1957 Reserve fleet705E.M.E.D.1928 1928–1953 Legacies of Mr Dewhirst, Miss Yates, Mr Barnes and Miss Watkins, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 40-hp Weyburn CE4 4-cyl petrol engines, costing £8,700. Sold January 1956.Renamed Capitán Christiansen, with Bote Salvavidas de Valparaíso, Chile. See below. 1953–1955 Reserve fleet
Other fleets RNLI ON Name Built Station Comments 704 1928 1957–1991 Retired September 1991.In storage at Ercna UTU, Carmelo, Uruguay, December 2025 705 Capitán Christiansen 1928 1955–1998 Valparaíso, Chile Retired 1998.On display at Chile National Maritime Museum, Valparaíso, December 2025.
See also Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
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References
External links RNLI