Name Gertrude

GERTRUDE (ON 847) is a 46ft twin-engined open cockpit Watson Class lifeboat built in 1945. She served as the Holy Island lifeboat for 22 years from 1946 until 1968, before serving at Exmouth for two years 1968-1970, and then at Sheerness for four years 1970-1974. She became a relief lifeboat in 1974 serving at Padstow, Lizard, Penlee, St Marys, and finally at Fowey from 1980 until 1981. During her RNLI service she was launched 185 times and saved 139 lives.  She was sold into private ownership in 1981.  

GERTRUDE has remained in the same private ownership since 1981, based out of Mevagissey. She has been used solely for private family trips and RNLI events. She has not been used for several years, but her engines are run up regularly and the boat has been slipped for maintenance when required. 

The lifeboat retains a very high level of originality, having not been converted in any way, She still retains her floatation chambers with cork boxes in large parts of the hull, along with the small mahogany panelled cabin forward and open cockpit aft. Her hull is constructed of double diagonal mahogany planking, all copper rivet fastened with a layer of kalico and white lead between the skins. Her steamed oak timbers are closely spaced through the hull and all are copper rivet fastened. Her decks are made from two layers of mahogany, with a diagonal layer underneath with fore and aft planking on top, all copper rivet fastened. 

GERTRUDE still retains all her original bronze deck fittings, her forged stanchions, and her chain guard rails. The aft cockpit is open with a fitted tonneau cover. Her superstructure is in two parts, with a riveted iron section forward that is part of the sealed engine room box. Aft of this is a double diagonal mahogany curved superstructure leading to the windshield and open backed cockpit.  

She also still has her original twin Ford Parsons 6 cylinder 70hp diesel engines, with Parson gearboxes connected to fixed 3-blade bronze propellers in tunnels. The engines are beautifully installed with braized copper exhausts. She has a closed loop cooling system with large heat exchangers in the forward cabin, which reduces the risk of blockages and breakdown at sea. There are two large fuel tanks under the side decks, outboard of the forward cabin. Her 12 volt batteries are charged from the engine alternators.

Below decks accommodation is very limited and spartan, although there is plenty of sheltered space under the superstructure. The forward cabin is totally original with panelled mahogany joinery and seating on 3 sides for rescued casualties. There is sitting headroom only in the forward cabin. GERTRUDE remains in overall good condition, although elm coaming round the aft end has started to go soft. Her engines have been thoroughly overhauled, start on first button press, and run smoothly.

GERTRUDE was the last of the open cockpit Watson class boats to be launched.