Sponsors
National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors
Registration number
3706
Status
Registered
paula.palmer
Previous names
- 1960 The Robert
Details
Function
Service Vessel
Subfunction
Lifeboat
Location
Dartmouth
Vessel type
Watson Class Lifeboat
Current use
Private use
Available to hire
No
Available for excursions
No
Construction
Builder
Osborne, William, Littlehampton
Built in
1959
Hull material
Wood
Number of decks
1
Propulsion
Motor
Number of engines
2
Primary engine type
Diesel
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
9.84 feet
(3.00m)
Depth
5.25 feet
(1.60m)
Air Draft
11.48 feet
(3.50m)
Length: Overall
48.23 feet
(14.70m)
Tonnage: Gross
22.04
History
RNLB THE ROBERT ON955 is a Watson 47 built in 1960. She is the only RNLI lifeboat to have served in all 4 countries. The Robert started her service at Brought Ferry near Dundee and was there for 18 years until she was converted to be fully self righting. Her next service was in Baltimore SW Ireland where she was the first lifeboat launched in the Fastnet disaster in 1979. She also served at Latham St Annes and Beaumaris before retiring in 1992 as the last Watson lifeboat in service. She is now in private ownership and is in pretty much original condition. The current owners took her back to Baltimore in 2019 for the 40th Anniversary commemoration of the Fastnet disaster. Now based in Dartmouth and kept in commission as part of the UK’s maritime heritage
Key dates
- 2022-05-04
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
