The RNLI’s Surf light motor lifeboats, their design and history
The 32ft Surf class was a small waterjet-powered motor lifeboat type developed in the 1930s. The nine Surf lifeboats saw service with the RNLI from the 1930s and throughout the Second World War.
The most notable aspects of the Surf lifeboat design were the method of propulsion, which came in the form of an early kind of water jets, and their small size; with one exception, the boats were the smallest motor lifeboats ever built by the RNLI.
This volume records the design, development and service history of the Surf lifeboats, which represented a unique departure in British lifeboat development. Details of every Surf lifeboat are included, together with photographs of them all, both in service and after they had been sold by the RNLI.
This thoroughly researched volume contains many previously unpublished photos and plans, and provides a unique record of an unusual lifeboat type.
For more details, see the webpage about the book.
The RNLI’s rescue cruisers, their design and history
The 70ft Clyde class lifeboats were the largest rescue vessels ever built by the RNLI. This book records the design, development and service history of the three steel-hulled Clyde rescue cruisers, which were a unique part of British lifeboat development.
The Clyde class was developed during the early 1960s, when two boats were built, with a third of the class completed in the mid-1970s. They served mainly in the Bristol Channel and in Orkney, giving outstanding service for two decades.
The three boats were sold out of RNLI service in the late 1980s as the emphasis was being placed on faster lifeboats, but all three are thriving in private hands.
This thoroughly researched history of the Clyde cruisers contains many previously unpublished photos and plans, and provides a record of an unusual departure in Britain’s lifeboat history.
Price £6.95 | ISBN 9781909540156 | Paperback | 56 Pages | Size 210mm x 148mm | Published May 2019
The Weymouth lifeboat station has a fine record of gallantry. The volunteer lifeboat crews have answered the call hundreds of times, and have been saving lives at sea off the Dorset coast for a century and a half.
This book covers the history of the Weymouth lifeboats, the volunteers that have crewed the boats, and the rescues they have undertaken, from the routine to the spectacular.
Details of all the lifeboats and the many medal-winning rescues are included.
Price £14 | ISBN 9781909540149 | Paperback | 164 Pages | Size 234mm x 156mm | Published May 2019
This book covers the history of the famous Llandudno lifeboat station in North Wales. It also covers the now closed RNLI station at Llanddulas as well as the inshore lifeboat station at Conwy.
The tradition of life-saving has been continued by the lifeboat crews at Llandudno, Llanddulas (between 1869 and 1932) and Conwy.
This book covers the history of the three stations, with a focus on Llandudno, as well as all the notable rescues and the many lifeboats that have served this coast.
It covers the rowing lifeboats at the station, the introduction of motor lifeboats and is brought right up to date with the new state-of-the-art 13m Shannon lifeboat, which came to Llandudno in 2017 following the completion of the new lifeboat house at Carig-y-Don.
Price £15.99 | ISBN 9781909540125 | Paperback | 200 Pages | Size 234mm x 156mm | Published April 2018
The Padstow lifeboat station, established in the early years of the nineteenth century and now operating at Trevose Head, is one of the most famous in the country.
It has a fine record of gallantry and the volunteer lifeboat crews have saved hundreds of lives at sea off the North Cornish coast.
This book covers the history of the lifeboats and their crews, from the early days of pulling and sailing, to steam lifeboats, to the unique steam tug Helen Peele of 1901.
It then covers the station's first motor lifeboat, the famous 61ft Barnett Princess Mary, and s brought up to date with details of the current state-of-the-art 16m Tamar Spirit of Padstow, which has now been on station for more than a decade.
This authoritative history covers almost 200 years of life-saving, and contains details of all the major rescues, lifeboats and rescuers.
Price £14.99 | ISBN 9781909540132 | Paperback | 202 Pages | Size 234mm x 156mm | Published August 2018
The Moelfre lifeboat station on Anglesey is one of the most famous in the country. The station's crews have been awarded no fewer than three Gold medals awarded for outstanding rescues, as well as many other medals for gallantry.
The volunteer lifeboat crews have undertaken hundreds of rescues, and have provided a rescue service to shipping and craft using the Irish Sea for well over half a century and a half.
This comprehensive and authoritative history of the station includes hundreds of photographs, many never seen before, and encompasses all of the medal winning rescues.
It has been published to coincide with the opening of the impressive new lifeboat station and the introduction of the new state-of-the-art Tamar class lifeboat Kiwi.
This 200-page will appeal to anyone who has an interest in lifeboats, shipping, maritime heritage and Anglesey, as it includes dramatic accounts of rescues and details of the gallant work of the volunteer lifeboat crews of Moelfre.
Price £16 | ISBN 9781909540057 | Paperback | 200 Pages | Size 234mm x 156mm | Published July 2015
Littlehampton lifeboat station on the Sussex coast, well known as home to one of the famous Blue Peter lifeboats, has a fine record of gallantry, and the volunteer lifeboat crews have undertaken many rescues.
In 2017 the station celebrated 50 years of inshore lifeboats with the naming and dedication of its latest lifeboat.
Author Nicholas Leach has worked in conjunction with volunteers at the station to produce this comprehensive authoritative history, which details the work of the volunteer lifeboat crews of Littlehampton.
It includes numerous photographs, many that have never been seen before, and encompasses all of the famous rescues.
Divided into four sections, it provides details of the inshore lifeboats as well a record of the pulling and sailing era that lasted from the 1880s to the 1920s, and the lifeboat building activities of the town’s famous William Osborne boatyard.
This 112-page will appeal to anyone who has an interest in lifeboats, shipbuilding and maritime heritage in Sussex.
Price £9.99 | ISBN 9781909540095| Paperback | 112 Pages | Size 234mm x 156mm | Published March 2017
The New Brighton lifeboat station on the Mersey has a fine record of gallantry and this illustrated history covers 150 years of life-saving on the Mersey.
The volunteer lifeboat crews have undertaken hundreds of rescues, including many notable medal-winning services.
They have provided a rescue service to shipping and craft using the river Mersey for a century and a half, operating unusual lifeboat types including Tubular rowing boats, steam-powered craft and, in the 1920s, the largest lifeboat in the world.
This book provides a comprehensive history of the station from the middle of the nineteenth century to the modern era, with the state-of-the-art Atlantic 85 lifeboat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.51).
Price £14.99 | ISBN 9781909540040| Paperback | 200 Pages | Size 234mm x 156mm | Published January 2015
The volunteer lifeboat crews of Sheringham have been putting to sea to help those in peril for more than 170 years, and authors Nicholas Leach and Paul Russell have recorded their exploits in this book which provides a comprehensive account of the station’s history and development.
The first lifeboats at Sheringham date from the 1830s, when a private locally-funded boat named Augusta was provided for the use of the fishermen. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution got involved in the station’s operation in 1867 and three pulling and sailing lifeboats served between then and 1936.
In 1936 the first motor lifeboat, a 35ft 6in craft named Foresters’ Centenary, was placed on station and served for 25 years, achieving a magnificent service record ad saving 82 lives during her life-saving career.
The Oakley lifeboat The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows served until the early 1990s, since when fast rigid-inflatable Atlantic lifeboats have been operated.
The latest lifeboat at Sheringham, the Atlantic 85 class The Oddfellows, arrived in July 2007 and was named on 15 September 2007.