Peake-class Lifeboat

The Peake-class lifeboats were the most numerous lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coasts of the United Kingdom including Ireland between the 1850s and the 1890s.

Background

Lifeboats of various designs had been stationed at many towns in the United Kingdom by the middle of the 18th century. Some were self-righting and all were rowed or "pulled"; many were designed by local committees to their own preferred design. In 1850 a competition was held by the Duke of Northumberland to design a lifeboat that could also use sails so that its range could be extended, a "pulling and sailing" lifeboat. 280 entries were received and that by James Beeching considered the best. Several Beeching-class lifeboats were built but James Peake, a master shipwright at the Royal Woolwich Dockyard, was asked by the RNLI to develop the design further.

Design

Peake produced a self-righting lifeboat similar to Beeching's design, some long and wide. It drew just of water and weighed only , lighter than Beeching's and therefore easier transport on its specially designed carriage to a launch site and get into the water.

A iron keel enabled it to self-right if it capsized. The ballast beneath the floor was cork whereas Beeching had used water tanks. The boat was fitted with large air-tight cases in the bow, stern, and along the sides which were covered in cork to give better grip to people moving around in the boat. There were also one-way valves at the bottom of the boat to drain out water. Tests showed that the boat could self-right in about 3 seconds and a boat full of water could drain in about 30 seconds.

Deployment 1852–1863

Peake-designed lifeboats were the preferred choice for both new and replacement boats at most stations, although some other designs were provided to suit local needs. The first to be built was long and designed for 12 oars. Most stations were provided with boats designed generally for 6 or 10 people at the oars.

Self-righter lifeboats from 1863

At the time of the annual report in 1863, the RNLI had 124 stations of which 99 were operating lifeboats to Peake's design and 6 to 's. The remainder were non-self-righting including 7 and 2 tubular lifeboats. After this time the reports no longer listed the class of lifeboat although mention was sometimes made when a non-standard design was provided. The design that had evolved was generally referred to as a 'self-righting' or 'self-righter' lifeboat. The design continued to evolve and new features were tried. Some used water ballast like Beeching's but with lighter construction as used by Peake.

George Lennox Watson was appointed the RNLI's naval architectural adviser in 1887. He produced a prototype non-self righting boat in 1888, but self-righting boats with many of the features designed by Peake continued to be built until 1916. Most were either or long.

References

{{RNLI lifeboat classes

Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats