A C-class lifeboat usually refers to the Zodiac Grand Raid Mark IVs lifeboats, powered by twin 40 hp outboard motors, manufactured by Zodiac Marine & Pool of France, and which were operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
They were initially designated as D-class lifeboats, starting a series of boats numbered from D-500, but this was subsequently changed to C-class, to signify the difference between the twin engine C-class and the single engine D-class.[1]
In 1970, the first lifeboats to be classed as C-class were twin engine RIBs, which were developed to be the Atlantic series lifeboats, and were re-designated B-Class. C-1 was renumbered as B-3, C-2 became B-4 etc.[1]
The C-class Zodiac Grand Raid IV was replaced by both the and the inshore lifeboats.[2]
| Op. No. | Name | In Service | Station | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-3 (Ex C-1) | 1970 1971 | |||
| B-4 (Ex C-2) | 1974–1976 1978 | |||
| B-5 (Ex C-3) | 1972–1974 1976–1978 | |||
| B-6 (Ex C-4) | 1973 1974–1976 | |||
| B-7 (Ex C-5) | 1974 1981–1984 | Tynemouth Boarding Boat | ||
| B-8 | 1975 1977 | |||
| (D-500) | 1972–1974 1974–1979 1979–1981 | Trials Relief fleet | ||
| (D-501) | Trials only | |||
| C-502 | John Gilpin | 1973–1975 1975–1977 1977–1983 1983–1985 1985–1988 | Trials Relief fleet Boarding Boat Inshore Lifeboat Centre | |
| C-503 (Ex D-503) | 1973–1977 1977–1979 1979–1983 1983–1987 | Trials Training fleet Boarding Boat | ||
| C-504 (Ex D-504) | 1973–1978 1978–1987 | Trials Inshore Lifeboat Centre | ||
| C-505 (Ex D-505) | 1979–1986 1986–1987 1987 1987–1989 1990 | Relief fleet | ||
| C-506 (Ex D-506) | 1980–1986 1987–1987 1988–1993 1993–1997 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | ||
| C-507 (Ex D-507) | 1981–1988 1988–1990 | Relief fleet | ||
| C-508 (Ex D-508) | The Chris Pirson | 1981–1992 1992–1996 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-509 (Ex D-509) | Oats | 1983–1993 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | |
| C-510 (Ex D-510) | 1983–1991 1991–1995 | Relief fleet | ||
| C-511 (Ex D-511) | 1984–1994 1994–1996 1996–2008 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | ||
| C-512 (Ex D-512) | 1984–1991 1991–1996 | Relief fleet | ||
| C-513 | Sebag of Jersey | 1984–1990 1990–1993 1993 1993–1996 1997– | Relief fleet Relief fleet Boarding Boat | |
| C-514 | 1985–1995 1995–1997 1997–1998 1998 | Relief fleet Inshore Lifeboat Centre | ||
| C-515 | 1985–1995 1995 | Inshore Lifeboat Centre | ||
| C-516 | 1986–1995 1995–1996 | Relief fleet | ||
| C-517 | 1986–1996 1996–1997 1997–2008 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | ||
| C-518 | 1987–1997 | |||
| C-519 | Thomas Corbett | 1987–1995 1995–1996 1996–1997 | Relief fleet | |
| C-520 | 1988–1996 1996–1999 | Relief fleet Boarding Boat | ||
| C-521 | Prince of Arran | 1988–1998 | ||
| C-522 | 1989–1997 1997 1998– | Boarding Boat Publicity | ||
| C-523 | British Diver IV | 1990–1991 1991–1993 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1998 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | |