The Atlantic 85 is a third-generation B-class rigid inflatable boat (RIB) inshore lifeboat. It is operated around the shores of the British Isles and the Channel Islands by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). It was developed from the and the later . It entered service in 2005, and gradually replaced the Atlantic 75.

The Atlantic design of the B-class of lifeboats is named after Atlantic College, where the design was developed.

Design The hull is made of a fibre-reinforced composite, consisting of a carbon fibre and foam core laminate with an epoxy glass and foam sandwich layup. The tubes are Hypalon.

The boat is powered by twin Yamaha 4-stroke outboard engines that have been inversion-proofed to ensure the engines are still operational after a capsize.

Like previous RIBs, it has a manually operated self-righting mechanism that deploys an airbag mounted atop the A-frame. It can be beached in an emergency without damage to engines or steering gear. The Atlantic 85 is fitted with radar and VHF direction finding equipment and can be operated safely in daylight in a force 6/7 wind and at night in a force 5/6.

The Atlantic 85 has intercom communications between the crew and VHF radio via their helmets. The lifeboat is also equipped with the RNLI's SIMS (ship information & management system) which provides the crew with combined chartplotter and AIS, radar and VHF directional finding capability. It carries searchlights, handheld night-vision equipment and illuminating paraflares for night-time operations, as well as casualty care equipment.

To ensure equipment is kept to a high standard of repair, boats go through annual or bi-annual overhauls, and 4-year refits.

All of the following fleet details are referenced to the 2026 Lifeboat Enthusiast Society Handbook, with information retrieved directly from RNLI records.

Gallery

Atlantic 85 fleet B-800 – B-899 Op.No. Name Station Comments B-800B-PO2 – Prototype Sold in 2024 to HG MarineB-801The Drayton Manor 2004–2006 TrialsSold in 2024 to ICE SAR 2006 Relief fleet 2006 2006–2014 Relief fleet 2014–2017 Training fleet 2017–2021 Relief fleet 2021–2022 Training fleet 2024– ICE SAR B-802Chelsea Flower Show 2006–2015 Relief fleet B-802C 2015– Training fleet B-803William Hurst 2006–2019 Relief fleet B-803C 2020– Training fleetB-804 Lydia Macdonald 2006–2022 Sold in 2024 to Freshwater Bay The Jillian Scott: Spirit of the West Wight V 2024– Freshwater BayB-805Jessie Hillyard 2006–2024 Sold in 2024 to Finland SAR 2024– Finland Lifeboat Inst. B-806 Mudeford Servant(Civil Service No. 48) 2006–2024 Sold in 2024 to River Yar boatyard, IOWB-807Mary Lewis 2006–2017 Relief fleetSold in 2024 to Neptune Marine Services 2017–2024 Training fleetB-808Donald McLauchlan 2006–2025 Conversion as Mk. 4 prototype. 2025– Inshore Lifeboat CentreB-809The Two Annes 2006–2024 Sold in 2024. In service with Bote Salvavidas de Valparaíso, Chile, Jan 2026 2026– ValparaísoB-810Tabbycat 2006–2008 Relief fleetSold in 2022. With Merseyside Fire and Rescue Marine Unit. 2008–2012 2012–2021 Relief fleet 2021–2022 Training fleet 2023– Merseyside Fire and Rescue ServiceB-811Hylton Burdon 2007–2022 Sold in 2022. With Merseyside Fire and Rescue Marine Unit. 2023– Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service B-812 Frank William Walton 2006–2026 B-813 Muriel and Leslie 2006–2025 Sold 2026. FP Engineering Solutions, Southport. B-814 Sheila Stenhouse 2006–2026 B-815Peterborough Beer Festival III 2006–2021 Relief fleetSold in 2024 to British Overseas territory 2021–2022 2022–2024 Training fleetB-816David Page 2007–2022 Sold in 2024 to British Overseas territory 2022–2024 Relief FleetB-817Wolseley 2007–2024 Sold 2024, to Iceland ICE-SAR 2024– ICE-SAR B-818 The Oddfellows 2007– B-819Minnie and Ernest George Barry 2007–2026 Sold in 2026. Finland Lifeboat Institution. 2026– Finland Lifeboat Inst. B-820 Elizabeth Jane Palmer 2007–2026 Sold in 2026.B-821Gladys Mildred 2007–2023 Sold in 2023. Iceland ICE-SAR 2023– ICE-SARB-822Spirit of Friendship 2007–2023 Sold 2024, to Björgunarsveitin Ársæll, Iceland SAR 2024– ReykjavíkB-823 Doris Joan 2007–2023 Spirit of Hornsea 2024– Hornsea Inshore Rescue B-824 2007–2023 Donated 2025, to Royal Montserrat Police ServiceB-825Norma Ethel Vinall 2008–2020 Relief fleet 2020–2022 2022– Training fleet B-826 Sgt. Bob Martin(Civil Service No. 50) 2008– B-827 Olive Laura Deare II 2008– B-828 Elaine and Don Wilkinson 2008– B-829Derrick Battle 2009–2025 Converted for Mk. 4 Atlantic 85 trials 2025– Inshore Lifeboat CentreB-830Douglas Murray 2008–2021 Relief fleet 2021–2023 2024– Relief fleet B-831 Joy Morris 2009– B-832 Rose of The Shires 2009– B-833 Blue Peter V 2009– B-834 William Henry Liddington 2009– B-835Martin Harvey 2009–2024 Relief fleet 2024–2025 Training fleet 2025– Relief fleet B-836 Tommy Niven 2009– B-837 Charles Dibdin(Civil Service No.51) 2009– B-838 Annette Mary Liddington 2010– B-839 Maureen Lillian 2010– B-840Harold Bains 2010–2022 Training fleet 2022–2023 Relief fleet 2023– Training fleet B-841 Eric W. Wilson 2010– B-842 Hello Herbie 2010–2015 B-843 Geoffrey Charles 2010– B-844 Edith Louise Eastwick 2010– B-845James Dugdale 2010–2015 Relief fleet 2015–2021 Training fleet 2021–2025 Relief fleet 2025–2026 2026– Relief fleet B-846 Norma T 2010– B-847 Hereford Endeavour 2010– B-848 Spirit of West Norfolk 2011– B-849 Tony and Robert Britt 2011– B-850Edna May 2011–2024 Relief fleet 2024– Training fleet B-851 Jimmie Cairncross 2012– B-852 Random Harvest 2011– B-853 Binny 2011– B-854 R. A. Wilson 2011– B-855Eric C. Guest 2011–2016 Relief fleet 2016–2020 Training fleet 2020 2020–2022 Relief fleet 2022– Training fleet B-856 Spirit of Fred. Olsen 2011– B-857 Spirit of Loch Fyne 2012– B-858 Leicester Challenge III 2012– B-859 Sheena Louise 2012– B-860 Max Walls 2012– B-861 Glanely 2012– B-862 James and Helen Mason 2012– B-863David Porter MPS 2012–2025 2025– Relief fleet B-864 Richard Wake Burdon 2012– B-865Malcolm and Mona Bennett-Williams 2012–2022 Relief fleet 2022–2024 Training fleet 2024– Relief fleet B-866 Louis Simson 2013– B-867 William and Eleanor 2013– B-868 Annie Tranmer 2013– B-869 Joyce King 2013– B-870John and Louisa Fisher 2013–2021 Relief fleet 2021–2025 2025– Relief fleet B-871 Albatross 2013– B-872 Toby Rundle 2014– B-873 Robert and Isobel Mowat 2014– B-874 Robert Armstrong 2014– B-875Alexander 2014–2015 Relief fleet 2015–2017 2018–2023 Relief fleet 2023– B-876 Rachael Hedderwick 2014– Arran (Lamlash) B-877 Lewisco 2014– B-878 Claire and David Delves 2014– B-879 Just George 2014– B-880 Martin Frederick Whitehouse 2014– Relief fleet B-881 Solihull 2015– B-882 David Bradley 2015– B-883 Roy Snewin 2015– Relief fleet B-884 My Lady Anne 2015– B-885 Julia & Angus Wright 2016– B-886 Peter and Ann Setten 2015– B-887 Jacqueline Saville 2015– B-888 Sheila & Dennis Tongue 2015– B-889Elizabeth and Maraget Milligan 2015–2019 Relief fleet 2019–2024 2024– Relief fleet B-890 Gordon and Phil 2016– B-891 Renée Sherman 2016– B-892 John and Janet 2016– B-893 Mollie and Ivor Dent 2016– B-894 Sheila & Dennis Tongue II 2016– B-895 Irene Cornford 2016– Relief fleet B-896 Hugh Miles 2016– B-897 Sheila & Dennis Tongue III 2016– B-898 Susan Margaret Forsbrey 2017– Relief fleetB-899Howard Bell 2017–2023 2024–2025 2025– Relief fleet

B-900 – B-999 Op.No. Name Station Comments Hello Herbie II 2017– B-901Enid Foster 2017– Relief fleet B-902Sheila & Dennis Tongue IV 2018– B-903Angus and Muriel Mackay 2017– B-904Douglas, Euan and Kay Richards 2017– B-905 Gladys Hilda Mustoe 2018– B-906 Charles Lucock 2018– Relief Fleet B-907 Tierney Harvey & Sonny Reid 2018– B-908 Annabel E. Jones 2018– B-909 2018– B-910 Rita Daphne Smyth 2018– B-911 Jean Spier 2019– B-912 John and Jean Lewis 2018– B-913Pride of Fred. Olsen 2019 Relief Fleet 2019 2019–2020 Relief Fleet 2020–2021 2021–2024 B-914 Doris Day and Brian 2019– B-915 The Missus Barrie 2019– B-916 Robina Nixon Chard 2019– B-917 Jack & Phyl Cleare 2021– B-918 Ted Dawber 2019– Relief Fleet B-919 Jamie Hunter 2019– B-920 Tara Scougall 2019– B-921 Vivacious Atlantic 2019– Relief Fleet B-922 Jean McIvor 2020– B-923 Patricia Southall 2021– B-924 2021– B-925 John Rowntree 2021– B-926 Julie Poole 2021– Relief fleetB-927Dylan Rotchell 2021–2023 Relief fleet 2023–2025 2025– Relief fleet B-928 Marjorie Shepherd 2021– B-929 Paul and Stella Rowsell 2021– Relief fleet B-930 Colonel Stock 2022– B-931 Frank C Samworth 2022– B-932 Pamela Rosemary Dashwood 2022– Relief fleet B-933 Skipasund 2022– B-934 The Spirit of St Helier 2022– B-935 Daddy's Girl 2022– B-936 Uncle Johnny 2023– B-937 Florence and Ernest Bowles 2023– B-938 Frank Townley 2023– B-939 Penny J II 2023– B-940 Penny J 2024– B-941 Sam and Freda Parkinson 2024– Relief fleet B-942 Loving You 2025– B-943 Harold Hobbs 2024– B-944 Ruby Robinson 2024– B-945 SeaGil 2024– B-946 Spirit of Cooperation 2024– Relief fleet B-947 Claude and Kath 2024– B-948 Herietta H 2024– B-949 Ralph 2025– B-950 Hounslow Branch 2025– B-951 Neil Crowe 2025– B-952 George D Dow 2026– B-953 Oddfellows - Making Friends, Helping People tbc () B-954 June Marshall 2025– B-955 Berylium 2025– B-956 Spirit of Daisy 2026– B-957 Patrick and Dianne O'Connor 2026– B-958 Davdot 2026– B-959 Forever Yibba 2026– B-960 Bill Haran 2026– Relief fleet B-961 Joan-Ray tbc () In production B-962 Donald Forrester tbc In production B-963 Florence Mary Hope tbc () In production B-964 Clark 2025– B-964 Sundawn tbc () In production

See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Independent lifeboats in Britain and Ireland Talus MB-H amphibious tractor Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage

References

External links

RNLI Fleet B-class lifeboat Fleet