Inshore rescue boat

In addition to the inshore rescue boats located at some of our lifeguarded beaches, the following five lifeboat stations have an inshore rescue boat: 

Aberystwyth
Criccieth
Fowey
Plymouth
Teignmouth

Criccieth was the first station to receive an inshore rescue boat in 2009.  

Speed

When someone is in trouble at the beach, every second counts.

The RNLI inshore rescue boat can be launched quickly and can power through the surf at a top speed of 26 knots.

She is launched and recovered from a trolley or trailer. The trolley can be pulled into the surf by hand, saving vital seconds. She can also be towed to a suitable launching site using an all-terrain vehicle or patrol vehicle.

Manoeuvrability

Inshore rescue boats are ideal for rescues in the surf, close to shore, rocks and cliffs and even inside caves.

The boat is light enough for two people to launch but sturdy enough for use in heavy surf conditions as well.

She copes well with the shallow waters of estuaries and complements the conventional lifeboats at our lifeboat stations.

The craft is made from hypalon-coated fabric, an extremely durable synthetic rubber. The fabric is tensioned by a separate keelson tube fitted under removable floorboards. This forms a shallow V section that allows the inshore rescue boat to maintain speed and manoeuvrability through a wide range of difficult conditions.

Safety

The inshore rescue boat’s 30hp outboard has a propeller guard to protect swimmers from the propeller blades and to prevent any sea debris fouling the blades.

Footstraps for the crew and driver form part of the moulding that is in place between the sponsons and the inflatable keel.

RNLI lifeguards carry a rescue tube on their inshore rescue boat, which is strapped to the sponson.

A basic first aid kit is carried onboard and a grab bag containing swim fins and survivor’s lifejacket.

The inshore rescue boat has two stowage bags in the port and starboard sections of the bow carrying a mooring rope, flares, night vision kit and a searchlight.

Efficiency and effectiveness

First approved for surf lifesaving in 1979 in New Zealand, inshore rescue boats are now in use worldwide.

They were introduced into the RNLI fleet in 2001 – the year we introduced our lifeguarding service – and in 2009 at selected lifeboat stations. The boats are also used by our Flood Rescue Team.

Our inshore rescue boats are built and maintained at our Inshore Lifeboat Centre at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Lifeboat category:
Inshore

Year introduced to the RNLI fleet:
2001 to RNLI lifeguards
2009 to RNLI lifeboat stations

Launch type:
Trailer / trolley

Crew:
2

Survivor capacity:
5-6

Maximum speed:
26 knots

Range / endurance:
20 nautical miles

Length:
3.88m

Beam / width:
1.73m

Displacement / weight:
165kg

Fuel capacity:
20 litres

Engines:
30hp outboard with propeller guard

Construction:
Hypalon-coated fabric

Number in fleet:
Currently 25 on lifeguarded beaches and 5 at lifeboat stations

Identification
All lifeboats have a unique identification number.
The first part indicates the class so inshore rescue boats start with A for Arancia after the original New Zealand manufacturer.
The numbers after the dash refer to the build number. So the first RNLI inshore rescue boat built was given the number A-01.

Communication
RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crew use a handheld VHF (very high frequency) radio to maintain communication with the Coastguard and casualty.