Y-class lifeboat

Y-class boat aboard a Tamar-class lifeboat
Class overview
NameY-class
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
General characteristics
Length3 m (9.8 ft)
Propulsion1 × 15 hp (11 kW) outboard engine[1]
Speed25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
RangeWithin visual range of ALB
Complement2

The Y-class lifeboat is a class of small inflatable rescue boat, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Y-class is mainly used as a small tender carried on board the larger RNLI All-weather lifeboats that serve the shores of the UK. They were originally carried aboard the Arun-class lifeboat, and are now normally found on the Severn-class and Tamar-class lifeboats. They are also used as part of the RNLI's flood rescue team.[2]

The lifeboat is powered by a single 15-hp outboard engine. It carries up to a crew of two and is primarily used in cliff incidents where the casualty is near the shore and the All-weather lifeboat cannot safely get to the base of the cliffs due to rocks.[1][2]

Other small boats operated by the RNLI include the Arancia-class beach rescue boats, the X-class and the XP-class lifeboats.[3]

Launching

The Y-class lifeboat can be launched from a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat using the integral crane, or manually, depending on the fit-out of the Severn lifeboat.[1]

On the Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat, the Y-class boat is housed in a built-in recessed chamber , within the stern section of the Tamar-class lifeboat. Access to this inflatable tender is achieved by lifting a section of deck and lowering a transom which doubles as a ramp. This allows the tender to be easily launched and recovered.[4]

Y-class fleet

Op. No.[a] Station Host ALB Comments
Y-157 Arranmore 17-22 Myrtle Maud
Y-164 Retired 17-24 Bon Accord
Y-166 Thurso 17-42 The Taylors
Y-167 Stromness 17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen
Y-168 Rosslare Harbour 17-43 Donald and Barbara Broadhead
Y-174 Harwich 17-03 Albert Brown
Y-175 Humber 17-05 Pride of the Humber
Y-176 Lochinver 17-40 Julian and Margaret Leonard
Y-177 Buckie 17-37 William Blannin
Y-178 Salcombe 16-09 Baltic Exchange III
Y-179 Relief fleet 16-19 Irene Muriel Rees
Y-180 Retired 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland
Y-181 Plymouth 17-35 Sybil Mullen Glover
Y-186 Retired 17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes
Y-187 Stornoway 17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen
Y-188 Retired 16-16 Molly Hunt
Y-189 Diverse Marine Ltd Formerly 17-04 Spirit of Guernsey
Y-191 Castletownbere 17-44 Annette Hutton
Y-192 Yarmouth (IOW) Spare not stored on any boat
Y-194 Relief fleet 17-41 Christopher Pearce
Y-195 Campbeltown 17-19 Ernest and Mary Shaw
Y-196 Tenby 16-02 Haydn Miller
Y-198 Relief fleet
Y-200 Longhope 16-05 Helen Comrie
Y-201 Yarmouth (IOW) 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)
Y-202 Aith 17-14 Charles Lidbury
Y-203 Angle 16-11 Mark Mason
Y-204 Newhaven 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland
Y-205 Dover 17-09 City of London II
Y-206 Tynemouth 17-34 Osier
Y-207 Penlee 17-36 Ivan Ellen
Y-208 Barrow 16-08 Grace Dixon
Y-209 St Mary's 17-11 The Whiteheads
Y-210 Scotland Regional Base Formerly 16-10 Edward and Barbara Prigmore
Y-211 Relief fleet 17-29 Richard Cox Scott
Y-212 Padstow 16-04 Spirit of Padstow
Y-213 Sennen Cove 16-14 City of London III
Y-214 Falmouth Boat Co
Y-215 Appledore 16-16 Molly Hunt
Y-216 Kilmore Quay 16-18 Killarney
Y-217 Bembridge 16-17 Alfred Albert Williams
Y-218 Shoreham Harbour 16-15 Enid Collett
Y-219 St Helier 16-12 George Sullivan
Y-220 Mallaig 17-26 Henry Alston Hewat
Y-221 Islay 17-08 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II
Y-222 Kirkwall 17-13 Margaret Foster
Y-223 Valentia 17-07 John and Margaret Doig
Y-224 Aran Islands 17-06 David Kirkaldy
Y-227 Barra Island 17-12 Edna Windsor
Y-228 Lerwick 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon
Y-229 Ballyglass 17-15 Bryan and Gordon
Y-230 Aberdeen 17-24 Bon Accord
Y-231 Peterhead 16-03 The Misses Robertson of Kintail
Y-232 St Peter Port 17-04 Spirit of Guernsey
Y-233 Lowestoft Haven Marina
Y-234 Cromer 16-07 Lester
Y-235 Relief fleet
Y-236 Tobermory 17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey
Y-237 Weymouth 17-32 Ernest and Mabel
Y-238 Portrush 17-30 William Gordon Burr
Y-239 Porthdinllaen 16-24 John D Spicer
Y-240 Ramsgate 16-23 Diamond Jubilee
Y-241 Moelfre 16-25 Kiwi
Y-242 The Lizard 16-20 Rose
Y-243 Relief fleet 16-21 John Buchanan Barr
Y-244 Baltimore 16-22 Alan Massey
Y-245 St Davids 16-26 Norah Wortley
Y-246 Torbay 17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes
Y-247 The Mumbles 16-27 Roy Barker IV
  1. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Lifesaving features". Severn class lifeboat. RNLI. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "X, XP and Y-class lifeboats". Irish Lifeboats. Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Inshore Lifeboat Centre". Inflatable Boats. RNLI. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Lifesaving features". Tamar class lifeboat. RNLI. Retrieved 9 August 2025.