French
DeutschC-class lifeboat (Zodiac Grand Raid IV)
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | C-class |
| Builders | Zodiac Marine & Pool, France |
| Operators |  Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Preceded by | D-class (RFD PB16) |
| Succeeded by | |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) |
| Beam | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 x 40 hp Mariner outboard engines |
| Speed | >26 knots (30 mph) |
| Complement | 4 |
A C-class lifeboat usually refers to the Zodiac Grand Raid Mark IVs lifeboats, powered by twin 40 hp outboard motors, manufactured by Zodiac Marine & Pool of France, and which were operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
They were initially designated as D-class lifeboats, starting a series of boats numbered from D-500, but this was subsequently changed to C-class, to signify the difference between the twin engine C-class and the single engine D-class.[1]
In 1970, the first lifeboats to be classed as C-class were twin engine RIBs, which were developed to be the Atlantic series lifeboats, and were re-designated B-Class. C-1 was renumbered as B-3, C-2 became B-4 etc.[1]
The C-class Zodiac Grand Raid IV was replaced by both the D-class (EA16) and the B-class (Atlantic 21) inshore lifeboats.[2]
Fleet
[edit]| Op. No.[a] | Name | In Service[1] | Station | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-3 (Ex C-1) | Unnamed | 1970 1971 | Littlestone Atlantic College | |
| B-4 (Ex C-2) | Unnamed | 1971–1974 1974–1976 1978 | Helensburgh Littlestone-on-Sea Helensburgh | |
| B-5 (Ex C-3) | Unnamed | 1972–1974 1976–1978 | Littlestone-on-Sea Helensburgh | |
| B-6 (Ex C-4) | Unnamed | 1973 1974–1976 | Lymington Helensburgh | |
| B-7 (Ex C-5) | Unnamed | 1974 1981–1984 | Helensburgh Tynemouth Boarding Boat | |
| B-8 | Unnamed | 1975 1977 | Poole Poole | |
| (D-500) | Unnamed | 1972–1974 1974–1979 1979–1981 | Trials Minehead Relief fleet | |
| (D-501) | Unnamed | Trials only | ||
| C-502 (Ex D-502) | John Gilpin | 1973–1975 1975–1977 1977–1983 1983–1985 1985–1988 | Trials Silloth Relief fleet Boarding Boat Inshore Lifeboat Centre | |
| C-503 (Ex D-503) | Unnamed | 1973–1977 1977–1979 1979–1983 1983–1987 | Trials Silloth Training fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-504 (Ex D-504) | Unnamed | 1973–1978 1978–1987 | Trials Inshore Lifeboat Centre | |
| C-505 (Ex D-505) | Unnamed | 1979–1986 1986–1987 1987 1987–1989 1990 | St Abbs Red Bay Relief fleet Clifden Arran (Lamlash) | |
| C-506 (Ex D-506) | Unnamed | 1980–1986 1987–1988 1988–1993 1993–1997 | Portaferry Arran (Lamlash) Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-507 (Ex D-507) | Unnamed | 1981–1988 1988–1990 | Mudeford Relief fleet | |
| C-508 (Ex D-508) | The Chris Pirson | 1981–1992 1992–1996 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-509 (Ex D-509) | Oats | 1983–1993 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 | Aberystwyth Relief fleet Newquay Tighnabruaich Relief fleet | |
| C-510 (Ex D-510) | Unnamed | 1983–1991 1991–1995 | Criccieth Relief fleet | |
| C-511 (Ex D-511) | Unnamed | 1984–1994 1994–1996 1996–2008 | Newquay Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-512 (Ex D-512) | Unnamed | 1984–1991 1991–1996 | Cullercoats Relief fleet | |
| C-513 | Sebag of Jersey | 1984–1990 1990–1993 1993 1993–1996 1997– | St Catherine Relief fleet Criccieth Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-514 | Unnamed | 1985–1995 1995–1997 1997–1998 1998 | Kinghorn Relief fleet Clifden Inshore Lifeboat Centre | |
| C-515 | Unnamed | 1985–1995 1995 | St Bees Inshore Lifeboat Centre | |
| C-516 | Belsize Charitable Trust No.1 | 1986–1995 1995–1996 | St Ives Relief fleet | |
| C-517 | Unnamed | 1986–1996 1996–1997 1997–2008 | Rye Harbour Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-518 | Unnamed | 1987–1997 | Cardigan | |
| C-519 | Thomas Corbett | 1987–1995 1995–1996 1996–1997 | Red Bay Relief fleet Tighnabruaich | |
| C-520 | Unnamed | 1988–1996 1996–1999 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-521 | Prince of Arran | 1988–1998 | Arran (Lamlash) | |
| C-522 | Unnamed | 1989–1997 1997 1998– | Clifden Boarding Boat Publicity | |
| C-523 | British Diver IV | 1990–1991 1991–1993 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 | Relief fleet Criccieth Relief fleet Tighnabruaich Red Bay Relief fleet |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
- ^ Jenkins, David. "Inshore rescue - three miles from the sea!". Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2013.