- Source: Peake-class lifeboat
The Peake-class lifeboats were the most numerous lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coasts of the United Kingdom including Ireland between the 1850s and the 1890s.
Background
Lifeboats of various designs had been stationed at many towns in the United Kingdom by the middle of the 18th century. Some were self-righting and all were rowed or "pulled"; many were designed by local committees to their own preferred design. In 1850 a competition was held by the Duke of Northumberland to design a lifeboat that could also use sails so that its range could be extended, a "pulling and sailing" lifeboat. 280 entries were received and that by James Beeching considered the best. Several Beeching-class lifeboats were built but James Peake, a master shipwright at the Royal Woolwich Dockyard, was asked by the RNLI to develop the design further.
Design
Peake produced a self-righting lifeboat similar to Beeching's design, some 30 ft (9.1 m) long and 7 ft 6 in (2.3 m) wide. It drew just 14 in (36 cm) of water and weighed only 4,256 lb (1,930 kg), lighter than Beeching's 3.5 t (3,500 kg) and therefore easier transport on its specially designed carriage to a launch site and get into the water. A 784 lb (356 kg) iron keel enabled it to self-right if it capsized. The ballast beneath the floor was cork whereas Beeching had used water tanks. The boat was fitted with large air-tight cases in the bow, stern, and along the sides which were covered in cork to give better grip to people moving around in the boat. There were also one-way valves at the bottom of the boat to drain out water. Tests showed that the boat could self-right in about 3 seconds and a boat full of water could drain in about 30 seconds.
Deployment
Peake-designed lifeboats were the preferred choice for both new and replacement boats at most stations, although some other designs were provided to suit local needs. George Lennox Watson was appointed the RNLI's naval architectural adviser in 1887. He produced a prototype Watson-class non-self righting boat in 1888, but self-righting boats with many of the features designed by Peake continued to be built until after the end of the century although later boats used to water ballast like Beeching's. Most were either 35 ft (11 m) or 37 ft (11 m) long.
Some of the stations that received Peake-class lifeboats were:
Cullercoats (1852)
Sennen Cove (1852)
Newbiggin (1852 and 1860)
Barmouth (1853)
Bude (1853)
Penzance (1853)
Criccieth (1854)
Padstow (1856)
Hastings (1858)
Fleetwood (1859)
Polkerris (1863)
Campbeltown (1861)
Broughty Ferry (1862)
References
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