35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class lifeboat

Cyril and Lillian Bishop (ON740) on display at Hastings, 2020
Class overview
Name	35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class
Builders	J. Samuel White, Cowes S. E. Saunders, Cowes Saunders-Roe, Cowes J. I. Thorneycroft, Chiswick Rowhedge Ironworks, Rowhedge Groves & Guttridge, Cowes
Succeeded by	Liverpool-class
Cost	£3,000- £14,000
Built	Single engine: 1921–1940 Twin engine: 1947–1950
Completed	Single engine: 25 Twin engine: 5
Lost	2
Retired	24
Preserved	3
General characteristics
Displacement	Single engine: 5–6 long tons (5.1–6.1 t) Twin engine: 8–9 long tons (8.1–9.1 t)
Length	35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Beam	8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)-9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
Draught	2 ft 8 in (0.81 m)
Propulsion	Single engine: 35bhp Weyburn AE6 6-cyl. petrol Twin engine: 18bhp Weyburn AE4 4-cyl petrol/20bhp Ferry FKR.3 3-cyl.diesel
Speed	8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Crew	7/8

The 35ft 6in Self-righting motor-class was a 10.8 m displacement hull lifeboat built in single engine form between 1921 and 1940 and in twin-engined form between 1947 and 1950. The boats were operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1921 and 1965.

History

The need to provide carriage-launched motor lifeboats had first been addressed with the 35 ft (10.7 m) self-righting motor type of 1921. Three of these boats were built and were, to all intents and purposes, pulling and sailing lifeboats, with an auxiliary engine.

The definitive boat for production appeared in 1929, six inches (15 cm) longer and with the same 8 ft 10 in (2.7 m) beam as the second and third 35-foot types. After the first two boats had been put on station, a crash programme of production was instituted in 1931 and twelve boats were produced that year. These gave many stations their first motor lifeboats, but experience proved that stability was lacking and from RNLB Caroline Parsons (ON 763), beam was increased by 5 inches (13 cm). The final two single engine boats saw further beam increases, to 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) and 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m) respectively.

In common with the similar but non-self-righting Liverpool-class, post war production switched to twin-engined versions, but only five were built. The RNLI was increasingly switching to more stable non-self-righting lifeboats, and the single engine 35-foot 6in Self-righting motor lifeboats were replaced at most stations by Liverpool-class boats in the early 1950s, after around twenty years service. The twin-engined boats had even shorter lives, three being replaced by a Liverpool-class, and two others by 37 ft (11.3 m) Oakley-class boats, after less than fifteen-years service.

Description

The challenge of producing a motor lifeboat light enough to be manhandled for carriage launching resulted in a boat weighing around 5+1⁄2 long tons (5.6 t). The single RNLI-designed, Weyburn Engineering built AE6 6-cylinder petrol engine produced 35 bhp and sat in a watertight engine room beneath pent roof access hatches ahead of an aft cockpit shelter from which the mechanic operated the engine controls. Apart from a small shelter forward the boats were open. As described above, beam was increased during production in an attempt to improve stability. After World War II, five twin-engined boats were built which had a beam of 10 ft (3.0 m) and a larger shelter covering the engine room and very similar to the contemporary twin engined Liverpool-class. The first two of these boats were powered by twin 18bhp Weyburn AE4 4-cylinder petrol engines, but the final three had twin 20bhp Ferry FKR3 3-cylinder diesel engines.

Fleet

Single engine

35 ft (11 m) lifeboats

ON[a]	Name	Built[1]	In Service[2]	Stations	Comments[2]
655	Priscilla Macbean	1921 [Note 1]	1921–1927 1928–1931 1931–1934	Eastbourne Kirkcudbright Maryport	Sold 1934. Renamed Laurita. Now as Priscilla Macbean at Hastings Shipwreck Museum, August 2024.
683	Herbert Joy	1923 [Note 2]	1924–1931 1931–1937	Scarborough Relief fleet	Sold 1937. Renamed Swallow. Broken up at Camber Dock, Portsmouth, November 1995.
703	L. P. and St. Helen	1927 [Note 3]	1927–1929 1929–1931 1931–1937 1937–1949	Eastbourne Relief fleet Boulmer Newcastle	Sold 1949. Last reported at Morecambe, November 1949.

Single engine

35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) lifeboats

ON[a]	Name	Built[1]	In Service[3]	Stations	Comments[3]
726	City of Nottingham	1929 [Note 4]	1930–1936 1936–1949	Hythe Clovelly	Sold 1950. Renamed Margaret Rose and Dauntless. Restored to original as City of Nottingham, at Lawrenny Quay, Daugleddau estuary, December 2023.
727	Westmorland	1930 [Note 5]	1930–1940 1940–1951	Berwick-upon-Tweed Cullercoats	Sold June 1951. Renamed Swallow, owned by Northern Shipbreakers, Peterhead, 1961.
737	Louisa Polden	1931 [Note 6]	1931–1951	Redcar	Sold 1951. Broken up at Stockton-on-Tees in the 1980s.
738	J. H. W.	1931 [Note 7]	1931–1939 1939–1947	Lytham St Annes Padstow No.2	Sold April 1948. Renamed Follie and later Navette, last seen, Thames area, 1990s.
739	Lily Glen – Glasgow	1931 [Note 8]	1931–1952	Girvan	Sold May 1952. Renamed Ivy Dale, later Seeker II. Last reported derelict in a field off Harbour Road, Rye, June 2014.
740	Cyril and Lilian Bishop	1931 [Note 9]	1931–1950	Hastings	Sold November 1950. Renamed Thekla, later Lindy Lou (CN-182). Restored as Cyril and Lilian Bishop, on permanent display at the Shipwreck Museum, Hastings, July 2024.
741	Morison Watson	1931 [Note 10]	1931–1953	Kirkcudbright	Sold 1953. Renamed Scauronian. Broken up at Terregles, Dumfries, August 1998.
742	Herbert Joy II	1931 [Note 11]	1931–1951	Scarborough	Sold 1951. Renamed Viking Raumur. Broken up at Acaster Boatyard, York in the 1980s.
743	John and Sarah Eliza Stych	1931 [Note 12]	1931–1938 1938–1939	Padstow No.1 St Ives	Capsized and wrecked on service 23 Jan 1939, seven crew lost.
744	Laurana Sarah Blunt	1931 [Note 13]	1931–1952	Youghal	Sold 1952. Renamed Laurana (UL3). Broken up west of Ullapool, 2005
745	Lady Harrison	1931 [Note 14]	1931–1948 1949–1951	Ramsey Aberystwyth	Sold 1952. Renamed Neula, Isle of Skomer and Merch-y-Mor. Destroyed by fire at Husbands Shipyard, Marchwood, Southampton, April 2005.
746	William Maynard	1931 [Note 15]	1931–1939 1939–1941 1941–1948 1948–1949 1949–1953	Cloughey Relief fleet Ferryside Whitehills Relief fleet	Sold February 1953. Renamed Endura. Lost in English Channel off Dungeness, December 1970.
747	Stanhope Smart	1931 [Note 16]	1931–1947 1947–1951	Bridlington Padstow No.2	Sold 1951 Last reported in Liberia, 1951.
748	Mary Ann Blunt	1931 [Note 17]	1931–1950	Clogherhead	Sold 1951 Last reported with Balbriggan Sea Scouts, 1951.
752	John and William Mudie	1932 [Note 18]	1932–1950	Arbroath	Sold June 1951. Renamed Hunting Call, later Sharon. Ashore at Kingholm Quay, Dumfries, September 2023.
756	Civil Service No.4	1932 [Note 19]	1932–1948	Whitehills	Damaged beyond economic repair on service, 16 June 1948. Sold 1948. Renamed M. G. M., later Sandy K. Last reported as a yacht in Newfoundland in the 1970s.
757	Frederick Angus	1932 [Note 20]	1932–1949	Aberystwyth	Sold August 1949. Renamed Yr Ystwyth. Last reported as a damaged yacht, at Oakford, Nr Aberaeron, August 2015.
763	Caroline Parsons	1933 [Note 21]	1933–1938	St Ives	Capsized and wrecked on service, 31 January 1938
767	Catherine Harriet Eaton	1933 [Note 22]	1933–1953	Exmouth	Sold 1953. Renamed Sharan. Wrecked in Martins Haven Bay, Pembrokeshire, 1976.
768	Thomas and Annie Wade Richards	1933 [Note 23]	1933–1953	Llandudno	Sold 1953. Renamed Craiglais, Will Ifan and Dolphin (AB6). Believed to have been broken up at Tranmere 2003/04.
785	Sir Heath Harrison	1936 [Note 24]	1936–1949 1949–1955	Port St Mary Relief fleet	Sold January 1956. Renamed King John III. Last reported as Pilot Boat, Western Dock, Dover in the 1970s, December 1979.
826	Guide of Dunkirk	1940 [Note 25]	1941–1963	Lizard-Cadgwith	Sold 1963. Renamed Girl Guide, later Ex-RNLB Guide of Dunkirk. Privately owned at Mevagissey Harbour, December 2023.

Twin engine

All twin engined lifeboats were 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) long by 10 ft (3.0 m) beam

ON[a]	Name	Built[1]	In service[4]	Stations	Comments[4]
851	Tillie Morrison, Sheffield	1947 [Note 26]	1947–1953 1953–1959	Bridlington Llandudno	Capsized on service at Bridlington on 19 August 1952, one crew lost. Sold November 1959. Renamed Imshi and Elizabeth. Restored for display as Tillie Morrison, Sheffield, now in storage at (closed) Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno, April 2024.
878	M. T. C. (Mechanised Transport Corps)	1950 [Note 27]	1950–1963	Hastings	Sold 1964. Renamed Good Fortune, later John Stuart (BH 211). Derelict in a field at Pinfold Lane, Bridlington, November 2016.
879	E. C. J. R.	1950 [Note 28]	1951–1956 1956–1963	Scarborough Relief fleet	Capsized on service 8 December 1954, three crew lost. Sold March 1963 Renamed Tyne Trident, later Can-Y-Don (AB 115). Semi-derelict at Loch Harport, Isle of Skye, November 2024.
880	Isaac and Mary Bolton	1950 [Note 29]	1951–1963	Cullercoats	Sold 1964. Renamed R. A. J.. Last reported as Isaac and Mary Bolton at Lelystad, Netherlands, October 2019
881	City of Leeds	1950 [Note 30]	1951–1965	Redcar	Sold March 1965. Renamed Sea Llex (LO 283). Last reported at Walney Channel, Barrow-in-Furness, November 1996

1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.

Notes

1. 35 ft (11 m) x 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) lifeboat, costing £6,623, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 15-hp Miller engine.
2. 35 ft (11 m) x 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) lifeboat, costing £3,691, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 35-hp Sage engine.
3. 35 ft (11 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat costing £4,961, built by S. E. Saunders of Cowes, with single 30-hp Halford engine. Weyburn AE6 engine fitted, 1930.
4. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £4,596, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
5. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £4,597, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
6. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,758, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
7. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,821, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
8. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,743, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
9. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,821, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
10. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,718, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
11. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,791, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
12. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,754, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
13. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,812, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
14. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,754, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
15. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,804, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
16. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,742, built by Saunders-Roe of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
17. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,791, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
18. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,233, built by John I. Thornycroft & Company of Chiswick, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
19. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,342, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
20. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) lifeboat, costing £3,326, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
21. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) lifeboat, costing £3,213, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
22. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) lifeboat, costing £3,009, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
23. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) lifeboat, costing £3,010, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
24. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) lifeboat, costing £3,279, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
25. 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) x 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) lifeboat, costing £5,523, built by Rowhedge Ironworks of Rowhedge, Essex, with single 35-hp Weyburn AE6 engine.
26. Lifeboat costing £10,573, built by J. Samuel White of Cowes, with twin 18-hp Weyburn AE4 engines.
27. Lifeboat costing £11,283, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 18-hp Weyburn AE4 engines.
28. Lifeboat costing £12,095, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 20-hp FKR3 diesel engines.
29. Lifeboat costing £12,548, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 20-hp FKR3 diesel engines.
30. Lifeboat costing £13,939, built by Groves & Guttridge of Cowes, with twin 20-hp FKR3 diesel engines.

References

1. Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Lifeboats Part Three (3rd ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 23–25.
2. Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 42–45.
3. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 46–51.
4. Leonard & Denton 2025, pp. 50–53.

External links

• RNLI