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 Machan 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-class lifeboats were effectively a type of catamaran, or raft, with a flat deck mounted between two buoyant tubes. The deck of the boat was approximately 11 inches (280 mm) above the water. The lifeboat was the design of Messrs. Richardson, of Bala, Gwynedd. The boats were usually 12 or 14-oared, with sails available for suitable conditions.^[1]

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, operated primarily at just two stations, Rhyl and New Brighton, a tubular lifeboat was in service with the RNLI for a period of 83 years.^[2]

The vessel was constructed of two iron cylinders, approximately 40 ft (12 m) long x 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) diameter, divided into water-tight compartments. The thickness of the cylinder iron was 1/12 inch, and openings were provided in the top of each compartment for pumping out any water ingress. The four end compartments were filled with air-tight bladders, with cork shavings in the two middle compartments.^[1]

The ends of the cylinders are tapered and curved, and turned inwards, to meet at a raised point at the bow and the stern. The two cylinders are braced together, giving an overall width of 8 ft (2.4 m), with a platform mounted above, 30 ft (9.1 m) long x 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) width. The vessel is a 'Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboat, with usually 12–16 oars, steered by a rudder, with 2 lug-sails, jib and top-sails for suitable weather. Such was the buoyancy, that the vessel could carry 80 men, and would have little problem if they were all on one side.^[1]

The Tubular lifeboat was designed by Henry Richardson, and his son Henry Thomas Richardson, of Aber Hirnant, Bala, Gwynedd, 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.^[1]

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.^[1][3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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.^[2]

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