| Mudeford Lifeboat Station | |
| Map Type: | Dorset |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Location: | Mudeford Quay |
| Address: | Mudeford |
| Location City: | Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 4AB |
| Location Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 50.7243°N -1.7421°W |
| Building Type: | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Opened Date: | Station opened 1963 Present building 2003 |
| Owner: | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website: | https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/mudeford-lifeboat-station |
Mudeford Lifeboat Station[1] is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Mudeford, Christchurch, Dorset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed on Mudeford Quay 1963 and the present station was opened in 2003. It operates an inshore lifeboat (ILB).
During the 1960s the RNLI deployed inflatable ILBs at places around the coast where a quick response to increasing numbers of leisure boats and water users could not be made by larger all-weather lifeboats (ALBs) at stations established to serve commercial shipping. Mudeford Quay, at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, was selected as a suitable place and a small inflatable boat provided. This type of boat could only operate in relatively good conditions and were seldom used in the winter. As their usefulness was proven, some stations received an 'intermediate' ILB which could operate in more severe conditions. As early as 1970, Mudeford was one of the stations used to trial a new lifeboat, (B-500). Later, a boat was stationed at Mudeford in 1981, a new boathouse being opened for it on 28 June.[2]
In 1988 the crew facilities were improved, and Mudeford received a new type of boat, an Atlantic 21 B-Class rigid-hulled inflatable (B-529), 18 years after the first trials.
New boathouse and crew facilities were opened on 25 October 2003.[2]
The crew facilities are in a two-storey building. This is rendered and has a tile roof; large first floor windows at both ends give views across the water. Adjoining this and at right angles is the boathouse. This is built of timber with large windows along one side that allow visitors to see the lifeboat inside. The roof is metal with large skylights. The boat doors open onto a concrete platform and shallow slipway.
The can go out in Force 6/7 winds (Force 5/6 at night) and can operate at up to 35kn for 2½ hours.[3] Adjacent lifeboats are at Lymington Lifeboat Station to the east, and Poole Lifeboat Station to the west.[4] If a larger ALB is needed in the area it will come from .
The following are awards made at Mudeford[5]
Mr Kenneth Derham - 1959
Ian Parker, Helmsman - 1995
Stuart Ward, crew member -1995
Toby Abbott, crew member - 1995
Mel Varvel, crew member - 2023[6]
| [7] | Op. No. | Name | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | D-4 | |||
| 1964 | D-7 | |||
| 1965 | D-11 | |||
| 1965–1967 | D-42 | |||
| 1967 | D-21 | |||
| 1968–1970 | D-11 | |||
| 1970 | B-500 | On trials | ||
| 1970–1981 | D-190 | |||
| 1981–1988 | C-507 | C-class Zodiac Grand Raid Mk.IV | Originally Op. No. D-507. | |
| 1988–1990 | B-529 | Alexander Duckham | ||
| B-583 | Ken Derham | |||
| 2006– | Mudeford Servant | |||