The McLachlan-class lifeboat was an lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom and Ireland from 1967 to 1988. It was replaced by the .[1]
The McLachlan-class lifeboat was the second type of the 1960s fast Inshore lifeboat in service with the RNLI. It was designed by J. Allen McLachlan MRINA, a naval architect, former RNLI chief draughtsman and partner at longtime yacht and lifeboat designers G. L. Watson & Co. of Glasgow.[2]
The first trial boat, numbered 18-02 by the RNLI, was built by W. A. Souter of Cowes. The boat was constructed from 3 layers of mahogony with foam-filled watertight compartments, and was noted by its use of a 'ragged chine hull', with nine chines that cushioned the hull and reduced pounding. The helm was in a standing position, in a sunken bridge deck, with a weathershield in front of the controls. A 90 hp. Evinrude engine gave a speed of 20.9 knots.[3]
in September 1969, following successful trials, the RNLI placed an order for 4 boats with boat-builder William Osbourne of Littlehampton, to be constructed with GRP hulls, fitted with twin sterndrive Ford 60 hp marinised petrol engines, and each costing £3,400. 18-02 would later be fitted with twin 47 hp Perkins diesel engines. William Osborne built a further five McLachlan lifeboats in the 1970s. Most remained afloat, but two were kept on carriages. The one at being launched down a long slipway and that at IOM was launched with the aid of a tractor.[3] [4] [5]
In the early 1970s, it was decided to reclassify the 17 and 18-foot boats as lifeboats, and their numbers were changed according; 18-004 becoming A-504, 18-007 becoming A-507 etc.[6]
Although not classed as lifeboats, two further McLachlan designed boats were constructed for use as Boarding boats at Humber Lifeboat Station, (BB-239) and (BB-240).[6]
A-504 (formerly 18-004) at Weston-super-Mare, was launched at 10:30pm on the 13 September 1975 into an easterly gale, to a motor-boat stranded on the rocks. In difficult conditions, 5 people were rescued. Julian Morris was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal, and crew members Bernard Watts and Ian Watts both received the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum. The boat is now on display in the RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.[6] [7]
All the McLachlan lifeboats had been retired by the late 1980s, with the exception of the prototype boat, which went on to be a boarding boat at until 1994.[6]
| Built | In Service | Station | Comments | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-503 | 18-02 | 1967 | 1971 1971 1971–1972 1975–1994 | Eastney Humber Boarding Boat | Prototype | |
| A-504 | 18-004 | 1970 | 1970–1983 | On display at the RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection within Chatham Historic Dockyard. | ||
| A-505 | 18-005 | 1970 | 1970–1971 1972–1974 1975 1975–1987 | Eastney Eastney | 2018, At RW Davies, Saul Junction Marina undergoing restoration | |
| A-506 | 18-006 | 1972 | 1972 1972–1979 1979–1980 | Relief fleet | ||
| A-507 | 18-007 | 1972 | 1973–1976 1977–1979 1979–1980 1980–1983 | Relief fleet | ||
| A-508 | 18-008 | 1971 | 1971–1974 1976–1979 1980–1988 | Eastney | ||
| A-509 | 18-009 | 1972 | 1972–1976 1978 1978–1988 | Relief fleet | ||
| A-510 | 18-010 | 1973 | 1973–1974 1975–1984 1984–1987 | (Boarding Boat) | August 2020, Private ownership, Bristol | |
| A-511 | 18-011 | 1973 | 1973–1982 1984–1985 | Relief fleet | Sold. 1985. Renamed Kim O. December 2023, for sale at Stokesley, N Yorks. (Ebay) | |
| A-512 | 18-012 | 1973 | 1975–1987 1988 |