The 45 ft Watson-class was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1919 and 1925, and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1919 and 1956.

History In 1898 the first 45 ft Watson was built, one of the largest pulling and sailing lifeboats built for the RNLI. Only three of these 45 footers were built, the last in 1901.

The third boat, Albert Edward (ON 463), was based at , and after eleven years service, was taken in hand for rebuilding with a motor. A 40-bhp Tylor C 4-cylinder petrol engine was fitted but little else was changed and, like all single engine lifeboats, a full sailing rig and drop keel was retained. The boat returned to service at Clacton in 1912 and served there until 1929.

With the conversion of ON 463 deemed a success, plans were put in hand for the production of a series of 45 ft Watson motors, but due to the First World War, the first boat did not appear until 1919.

Description Like ON 463, the first eleven production boats were open decked and retained full sail plans and a drop keel. The first seven boats were powered by a 60-bhp Tylor D1 6-cylinder petrol engine, while the rest had an RNLI designed 80-bhp DE6 6-cylinder petrol engine, nine of which were built by Weyburn Engineering, and five by J. Samuel White.

Experience showed that the open deck layout was inadequate for the longer services operated by the motor lifeboats, and from the late 1920s, a shelter was added ahead of the steering position. The final ten boats, built from 1923, John R. Webb (ON 684), were to a revised design with a cabin capable of taking twenty survivors ahead of the engine room.

Fleet 45ft Watson-class ON Name Built Stations Shelter Comments463Albert Edward1901 NoGift of the Freemasons of England, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £1,890. 40-bhp Tylor C 4-cyl. petrol engine motor conversion, 1912. Sold October 1932.At Haven Marina, Ipswich, October 2023. 1929–1932 648Elsie1919 1919–1930 1927Gift of the Rt. Hon. A. Morley, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,295. Sold January 1951.Renamed Happy Return. Last reported as a yacht in Tahiti, 1960. 1930–1946 1946–1951 Relief fleet649 Duke of Connaught1919 1919–19201928 Gift of the Freemasons of England, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,013. Intended to be Duke of Connaught, but named Shamrock at the naming ceremony in 1920. Shamrock 1920–1950Funded by the RNLI, (the gift of the Freemasons of England redirected to ON 668) Sold February 1952.Last reported at Bowling Canal Basin, Dumbarton, June 1991. 1950–1952 Relief fleet653William Evans1921 1921–1927 Wexford1927Legacy of Mr W. Evans, part built by Summers and Payne of Southampton, completed by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,730. Sold November 1940. 1927–1927 1927–1939 654Joseph Adlam1921 1921–1948 1928Legacy of Mr J. Adlam, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,020. Sold February 1952. 1948–1951 Relief fleet658Dunleary1919 1919–1938 1928Gift of Civil Service LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,074. Sold May 1951.Under restoration as Dunleary by the Dunleary Restoration Project, at Coal Harbour, Dún Laoghaire, December 2025. 1939–1951 659Frederick and Emma1921 1921–1938 1929Legacy of Mrs E. M. Beer, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,141. Sold August 1950.Renamed Stadats. A yacht at Melton Boatyard, Melton, Suffolk, December 2025. 1939–1950 668Duke of Connaught1921 1921–1939 Peterhead No.21927Gift of the Freemasons of England reallocated from ON 649, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 60-bhp Tylor D1 4-cyl. petrol engine, costing £6,889. Sold October 1951.Renamed King John II. Last reported at Uppsala, Sweden, July 2012. 1939–1951 Relief fleet671The Brothers1922 1922–1931 1929Gift of the Misses H. H. A. and C. M Eddy, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £13,214. Sold August 1952.Renamed Admiral Douglas. Reported as The Brothers to have been broken up at Gweek Classic Boatyard. Hull now at Ferry Bridge Marine, Portland Beach Road, Weymouth, December 2025. 1931–1934 1934–1937 Relief fleet 1937–1938 1938–1946 Relief fleet 1946–1947 1948–1952 678 Edward, Prince of Wales 1924 1924–1947 1928 Gift of the Welsh LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £12,811.Capsized on service with eight crew lost, 23 April 1947. Boat later destroyed by fire.679Elizabeth Newton1923 1924–1939 1928Legacy of Mr R. Newton, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £12,724. Sold May 1953. Renamed Viking. Lost at Rhyl, 1981. 1939–1940 1940–1953 Relief fleet680 City of Bradford1923 1923–1929 1929 Gift of the City of Bradford LB fund, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £12,758.Renamed City of Bradford I in 1929. City of Bradford I 1929–1930 Relief fleetSold October 1952. Renamed Hammer. Last reported at Isle of Arran, 1980s. 1930–1932 Humber No.2 1932–1952 Relief fleet

45ft Watson-class (Revised) ON Name Built Stations Comments684 John R. Webb1923 1923–1930 Legacy of Mr J. R. Webb, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,747.Renamed 684 RM in 1931.684 RM 1931–1932 Renamed Hearts of Oak in 1934. 1932–1934 Relief fleetHearts of Oak 1934–1936 Fitted with 85-hp Ferry Diesel engines, 1934. Sold 1955.Renamed William Bradley. Stored for restoration as Hearts of Oak on the Yonne (river), Migennes, France, December 2024. 1937–1955 Relief fleet685J. W. Archer1924 1924–1950 Legacy of Mr J. W. Archer, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,515. Sold July 1956.Renamed Brighter Hope (HL 44). In storage as J. W. Archer at TCC Plant, Middlesbrough, October 2024. 1950–1954 1954–1956 Relief fleet686T. B. B. H.1924 1924–1949 Legacies of Mrs Thornton, Mr Bartlett, Miss Boustred and Miss Hooper, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,435. Sold January 1953.Renamed Moonraker, Hamptonian and Juno. Now as T. B. B. H. on the River Hamble, March 2025. 1949–1953 Relief fleet687B. A. S. P.1924 1924–1934 Legacies of Mr Richard Blackburn, Mrs Constance Armstrong, Mrs Marion Pender Smart and Mrs Henrietta Davidson Price, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,519. Sold February 1955.Renamed Valencia. On display since April 1996 as B. A. S. P. in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard, December 2025. 1934–1940 1940–1947 Relief fleet 1947–1951 1951–1955 Relief fleet688 Grace Darling1924 1924 1924 Wembley Exhibition Built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,997.Renamed The Lord Southborough (Civil Service No.1) after the exhibition.The Lord Southborough 1925–1951 Gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,997. Sold January 1955.A yacht in Cyrenaica in 1955. Last reported at Sholing, Southampton, November 2001. 1951–1955 Relief fleet689Manchester and Salford1924 1924–1946 Gift of the Manchester and Salford LB fund, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,456. Sold October 1954.Renamed Alison Jane and Jean Louise. Fully restored as Manchester and Salford at the Douglas Boatyard, Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, July 2025. 1946–1954 Relief fleet690C. and S.1925 1925–1940 Gift of Mr Coats and legacy of Mrs Smart, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,424. Sold November 1947.Renamed Caradoc. Last reported at Victoria, British Columbia, 1985. 1940–1943 1943–1946 Relief fleet 1946–1947 692Milburn1925 1925–1946 Legacy of Sir Charles Milburn and a gift from Mr F. Milburn, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 80-bhp Weyburn DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £8,449. Sold September 1955.Renamed Asmara, later Rosanaed. Last reported at Denton Island, Newhaven, East Sussex, February 2020. 1946–1955 Relief fleet694H. F. Bailey1924 1924–1928 Cromer No.1Legacy of Mr H. F. Bailey, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,530.Renamed J. B. Proudfoot in 1936. 1929–1935 Cromer No.1J. B. Proudfoot 1935–1941 Relief fleetLegacy of Miss F. B. Proudfoot. Sold September 1956.Renamed Gramarie. Last reported on the hard at Marbella, Spain, June 2019. 1941–1945 1945–1947 Relief fleet 1947–1949 1949–1956 Relief fleet695M. O. Y. E.1925 1926–1949 Legacies of Miss Manby, the Misses J. L. and J. C. Owen, Mr Yates and Mr Lloyd, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 80-bhp White DE6 6-cyl. petrol engine, costing £7,614. Sold April 1956. 1949–1956 Relief fleet

See also Watson-class lifeboat Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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References

External links RNLI