Tubular-class lifeboat

New Brighton Tubular Lifeboat, 1863
Class overview
Builders	William Lees of Manchester J. Hamilton Jnr. of Liverpool Naval Construction and Armament Co. of Barrow-in-Furness Mechan of Glasgow Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Built	1856–1896
In service	1856–1939
Completed	7
Retired	7
General characteristics
Type	Pulling and sailing lifeboats
Length	32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) to 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m)
Beam	8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) to 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
Propulsion	Oars and Sails
Crew	12–14

Tubular lifeboats were effectively a type of catamaran, or raft, with a flat deck mounted between two buoyant tubes. The decks of the boats were approximately 11 inches (280 mm) above the water. The lifeboat was the design of Messrs. Richardson, of Bala, Merionethshire. The boats were usually 12, 14 or 16-oared, with sails available for suitable conditions.

A tubular lifeboat was first placed in service at Rhyl in 1856 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Even though just six more of this type were constructed for the Institution, tubular lifeboats were in service with the RNLI for a combined period of 83 years. They operated primarily at just two stations, Rhyl and New Brighton.

Design

The vessel was constructed from two iron cylinders, each approximately 40 ft (12 m) in length and 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) in diameter, divided into watertight compartments. The iron plating of the cylinders was 1⁄12 in (2.1 mm) thick, and each compartment featured openings at the top to allow for the removal of any water ingress via pumping. The four end compartments were fitted with airtight bladders, while the two central compartments were filled with cork shavings.

The ends of the cylinders were tapered, curved, and turned inward to converge at a raised point at both the bow and stern. The cylinders were braced together, resulting in an overall width of 8 ft (2.4 m). Above, a platform was mounted measuring 30 ft (9.1 m) in length and 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) in width.

The vessel was classified as a "Pulling and Sailing" (P&S) lifeboat, typically equipped with 12 to 16 oars, steered by a rudder, and rigged with two lug sails, a jib, and topsails for use in favourable weather conditions. Its buoyancy allowed it to carry up to 80 men, and it remained stable even if all occupants were positioned on one side.

History

The Tubular lifeboat was designed by Henry Richardson and his son Henry Thomas Richardson, both of Aber Hirnant, Bala, in North Wales. Their first vessel, Challenger, was navigated from Liverpool, around Land's End, finally reaching its destination of Ramsgate, having successfully endured rough weather near St Davids and Padstow. It was sold for use in Portugal.

Following the loss of six Rhyl lifeboat men when their lifeboat capsized in January 1853, all confidence in their 'Beeching' constructed lifeboat was lost. At the request of the Rhyl lifeboat committee, a tubular lifeboat was commissioned by the RNLI, with a view to evaluating its performance. In February 1856, the new 32-foot tubular lifeboat, constructed by William Lees of Manchester, was launched, and towed from Manchester to Rhyl.

When Henry T. Richardson, then of Brynhrfryd, Pwllheli, died on 21 November 1878, he bequeathed to the RNLI, on the death of his wife, the sum of £10,000, to include the provision of two tubular lifeboats, their ongoing maintenance, and the opening of a lifeboat station at Pwllheli.

When the time came, in 1891, a lifeboat station was established at Pwllheli. A 35-foot 7in tubular lifeboat, Caroline Richardson (ON 287), was provided, but it was not liked by the crew. It served just one year at Pwllheli, being launched just once. In fact, such was the dislike for this type of boat that the RNLI went to court to gain permission to reallocate the funds to standard type lifeboats, which was granted. Caroline Richardson (ON 287) was transferred to Rhyl.

In the end, just two RNLI stations would find favour in the tubular lifeboat, Rhyl and New Brighton. A tubular lifeboat would serve at Rhyl from 1856 to 1939, a period of 83 years, with the last boat, Caroline Richardson (ON 398), on station for 42 years.

Tubular lifeboat fleet

ON	Name	Built	Length	In Service	Station	Comments
–	Challenger	1851	40-foot	1852–????	–	Prototype vessel, sold for service in Oporto Portugal.
70	Unnamed, Morgan	1856	32-foot	1856–1866 1867–1893	Rhyl	Away for repairs, 1866–1867
Pre-387	Rescue, Willie & Arthur	1862	42-foot	1863–1866 1867–1876	New Brighton	Rescue withdrawn from service in 1866, completely rebuilt, returned to service in 1867 as 40-foot 3in Willie & Arthur.
–	No. 1	1870	43-foot 6in	1870–1894	–	Operated by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
71	Willie & Arthur	1876	45-foot	1876–1888	New Brighton No.1
Pre-625	Stuart Hay	1878	40-foot	1878–1888	New Brighton
221	Henry Richardson	1888	43-foot	1888–1890 1890–1893 1893–1898	New Brighton No.2 New Brighton New Brighton No.1
287	Caroline Richardson	1891	35-foot 7in	1891–1892 1892–1897 1897–1899	Pwllheli Rhyl Relief fleet
398	Caroline Richardson	1896	34-foot	1897–1939	Rhyl

Pre ON numbers are unofficial numbers used by the Lifeboat Enthusiast Society to reference early lifeboats not included on the official RNLI list.

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations