Oakley-class lifeboat

Oakley class
RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960)
Class overview
Builders
  • William Osborne, Littlehampton
  • J. Samuel White, Cowes
  • Groves and Guttridge, Cowes
  • Herd and McKenzie, Buckie
  • Morris and Lorimer, Sandbanks
OperatorsRoyal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byLiverpool/Watson
Succeeded byRother/Solent
Cost
  • 37ft: £27,000-£38,000
  • 48ft 6in: £40,000-£72,000
Built1958–1971
In service1958–1993
Completed
  • 37ft: 26
  • 48ft 6in: 5
Retired31
Preserved10
General characteristics 37ft
Displacement12 long tons (12 t)
Length37 ft (11.28 m)
Beam11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Draught3 ft 4 in (1.02 m)
Propulsion2 × 43hp Perkins P4M/52hp Ford Thorneycroft/Parsons Porbeagle
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Complement7
General characteristics 48ft 6in
Displacement30 long tons (30 t)
Length48 ft 6 in (14.78 m)
Beam14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
Draught4 ft 4 in (1.32 m)
Propulsion2 × 110bhp Gardner 6LX
Speed8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h)
Complement8

The Oakley-class lifeboat refers to two types of self-righting lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1958 and 1993. The 37-foot (11.3 m) Oakley was designed for carriage launching, while the larger 48-foot-6-inch (14.8 m) version was designed for slipway launching or to lie afloat. During their service they saved a combined total of 1,456 lives in 3,734 rescue launches.

The class is known by the name of its designer, RNLI naval architect Richard Oakley.