XP-class lifeboat
 XP-class lifeboat
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | XP-class |
| Builders | Avon Inflatables |
| Operators |  Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 70 kg (150 lb) without engine |
| Length | 2.81 m (9.2 ft) |
| Beam | 1.6 m (5.2 ft) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
|
| Range | Trent: within sight of ALB |
| Endurance | Broads: 2 hours at top speed |
| Capacity | 4 (up to 460 kg or 1,000 lb) [a] |
| Complement | 1–2 |
| |
The XP-class lifeboat is a class of small inflatable rescue boat operated by the RNLI of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Other small boats operated by the RNLI include the Arancia-class beach rescue boats, the X-class and the Y-class lifeboats.[3]
History
[edit]The XP-class boat was a commercially available small inflatable boat, the Avon Rover 200, for use as a tender with larger vessels, and manufactured by Avon in based in Dafen, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
The craft was acquired by the RNLI, primarily for service as a daughter boat for the Trent-class All-weather lifeboats, to be used in areas inaccessible to the much larger Trent-class.[1][4]
One XP-class (XP-32) was also operated as a daughter boat for the Teignmouth Atlantic 85-class.[5]
XP-32 was also in use at South Broads Lifeboat Station in Suffolk. The XP was carried on a purpose built rack on the back of a Ford Ranger crew cab pickup, with the engine and all gear stowed in the load bed. On arrival on scene at any launch site withing the 120-mile operating area of the station, the boat could be unpacked and launched within four minutes. On evaluation tests, it was found that with the engine tilted up, it could operate in water depths of just 2 in (51 mm). The South Broads boat had a 15-hp engine, delivering over 20 knots. South Broads closed in 2011.[2]
Specification
[edit]Operated by one or two crew members, the XP boat was usually equipped with a 5-hp outboard engine, giving a top speed of 6–8 knots. The boat weighed 70kg, and required inflation before use. It was constructed of hypalon/neoprene coated polyester, and featured a slatted roll-away deck.[6]
XP fleet list
[edit]| Op. No.[a] | Station | Host ALB[3] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| XP-02 | Red Bay | 14-32 Corinne Whiteley | |
| XP-05 | Alderney | 14-04 Roy Barker I (retired) | retired |
| XP-09 | Fraserburgh | 14-34 Willie & May Gall | |
| XP-10 | Eastbourne | 14-02 Esme Anderson | |
| XP-11 | Sold | - | Sold |
| XP-14 | Fenit | 14-27 Robert Hywel Jones Williams | |
| XP-15 | Sold | - | Sold |
| XP-16 | Dún Laoghaire | 14-05 Anna Livia | |
| XP-17 | Donaghadee | 14-36 Saxon (retired) | Retired |
| XP-18 | Sold | - | Sold |
| XP-19 | Howth | 14-33 Roy Barker III | |
| XP-24 | Fishguard | 14-03 Blue Peter VII | |
| XP-25 | Sold | - | Sold |
| XP-27 | Achill Island | 14-28 Sam and Ada Moody | |
| XP-28 | Port St Mary | 14-15 Henry Heys Duckworth | |
| XP-30 | Retired | 14-26 Gough Ritchie II | Retired |
| XP-32 | Teignmouth | B-809 The Two Annes | Relief fleet |
| XP-32 | Relief fleet | 14-18 Maurice and Joyce Hardy | Relief fleet |
| XP-33 | Great Yarmouth and Gorleston | 14-10 Samarbeta | |
| XP-34 | Arklow | 14-19 Ger Tigchelaar (retired) | Retired |
| XP-35 | Portree | 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker | |
| XP-38 | Relief fleet | - | Relief fleet |
| XP-40 | Sold | - | Sold |
| XP-41 | Relief fleet | - | Relief fleet |
| XP-42 | South Broads | Retired | Retired 2008 |
| XP-45 | South Broads | Retired | Retired 2011 |
| XP-46 | Relief fleet | 14-17 Elizabeth and Ronald | Relief fleet |
| XP-49 | Sold | - | Sold |
| XP-50 | Alderney | 14-29 Inner Wheel II | |
| XP-51 | Douglas | 14-37 Betty Huntbatch |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Lifesaving features". Trent class lifeboat. RNLI. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ a b "South Broads RNLI – XP Class Lifeboat". broadsrnli.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009.
- ^ a b "RNLI X+Y Boats". lifeboatsonline.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Trent Class Lifeboats". irishlifeboats.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2008). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2008. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. p. 67.
- ^ "XP boat" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 59 (565): 22. Autumn 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2025.