Peake-class lifeboat

{{Infobox ship begin

| sclass = 2

}}

{{Infobox ship image

| Ship Image =

| image = File:Ipswich Life Boat Henry Davy (28 May 1862).jpg

| Ship caption = Ipswich, a 10-oar boat of 1862

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

| Name = Peake-class

| Builders =

| Operators = File:Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg RNLI

| Cost =

| Built range =

| In service range =

| Total ships completed =

| Total ships retired =

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

| Hide header =

| Header caption =

| Ship type = Lifeboat

| Ship displacement =

| Ship length = {{cvt|25|ft|m}}–{{cvt|37|ft|m|1}}

| Ship beam = Typically {{cvt|7|ft|6|in|m|1}}

| Ship propulsion = Oars, sails

}}

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.{{cite book| title = Riders of the Storm |last = Cameron|first = Ian|publisher = Orion Books |date = 2009 | isbn=978-0-7528-8344-1 |pages= 57–59}}

Design

File:Northumberland model lifeboat.JPG

Peake produced a self-righting lifeboat similar to Beeching's design, some {{cvt|30|ft|m}} long and {{cvt|7|ft|6|in|m|1}} wide. It drew just {{cvt|14|in|cm}} of water and weighed only {{cvt|4256|lb|kg}}, lighter than Beeching's {{cvt|3.5|t|kg}} and therefore easier transport on its specially designed carriage to a launch site and get into the water.

A {{cvt|784|lb|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.{{cite journal| title = Lifeboat designed by James Peake, Esq. | journal = The Engineer | date=1856 | page=20 | url = https://theengineer.markallengroup.com/production/2022/02/lifeboat.pdf | access-date = 25 February 2024}}

Deployment 1852–1863

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. The first to be built was {{cvt|30|ft|m}} long and designed for 12 oars.{{sfn|Cameron | 2009 | pp=65–67}} Most stations were provided with boats designed generally for 6 or 10 people at the oars.

class="wikitable sortable"

!Built

!Name

!Length

!Oars

!First station

!class=unsortable| Comments

1852

| Percy

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Cullercoats}}

| Prototype Peake-class lifeboat built at Woolwich Dockyard.{{cite web| title = Cullercoats station history | website = RNLI | url = https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/cullercoats-lifeboat-station/station-history-cullercoats | access-date = 25 February 2024}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1852 |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=40–41 |title=Statement and condition of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/01/03/state-and-condition-of-the-several-life-boats-boathouses-etc}}

1852

| Petrel

| {{cvt|31|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Appledore}}

| {{cite book| title = Devon's Lifeboat Heritage |last = Leach|first = Nicholas|publisher = Twelveheads Press |date = 2009 | isbn=978-0-906294-72-7|page= 40}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1853 |volume=1 |issue=8 |pages=8–9 |title=Statement and condition of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/01/08/state-and-condition-of-the-several-life-boats-boathouses-etc}}

1852

| Latimer

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Newbiggin}}

| {{cite web| title = The story of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea lifeboat station | website = Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | url = http://www.hansonclan.co.uk/Newbiggin/station_history.htm | last=Robinson | first=John | access-date = 25 February 2024}}

1852

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Worthing}}

1853

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Aldeburgh}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1853 |volume=1 |issue=9 |pages=38–39 |title=Additional stations and new life-boats |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/01/09/additional-stations-and-new-life-boats}}

1853

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|{{lbs|Barmouth}}

1853

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|Bude Haven

1853

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|{{lbs|Lyme Regis}}

1853

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Penzance}}

| Later stationed at {{lbs|Lyme Regis}}.{{cite book| title = Penlee |last = Campey|first = Rachael |publisher = RNLI |date = 2017 |pages= 15–17}}

1853

| —

| {{cvt|25|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Sennen Cove}}

1854

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|{{lbs|Ardrossan}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1854 |volume=1 |issue=12 |pages=102–103 |title=Statement and condition of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/01/12/state-and-condition-of-the-several-life-boats-boathouses-etc}}

1854

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|{{lbs|Dungeness}}

1854

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Portmadoc}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1855 |volume=2 |issue=16 |pages=32–33 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/02/16/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-etc}}

1854

| —

| {{cvt|29|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Skerries}}

1855

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Berwick-upon-Tweed}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1856 |volume=2 |issue=20 |pages=134–135 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/02/20/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-etc}}

1855

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Boulmer}}

1855

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Fishguard}}

1855

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Hauxley}}

1855

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Lytham}}

1855

| —

| {{cvt|26|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Newcastle}}

| Later stationed at {{lbs|Thorpeness}}.

1856

| Mermaid

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Appledore}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1857 |volume=3 |issue=24 |pages=38–39 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/03/24/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-etc}}

1856

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|{{lbs|Castletown}}

1856

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

| {{Lbs|Drogheda No.1}}

1856

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Dungeness}}

1856

| B Wood

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Hornsea}}

1856

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Padstow}}

| {{cite book| title = Padstow Lifeboats |last = Leach|first = Nicholas|publisher = The History Press |date = 2012 | isbn=978-0-7524-6540-1 |pages= 15–17}}

1856

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 8

|{{lbs|Rye}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Ballycotton}}

1857

| Dolphin

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Appledore}}

| Appledore No. 3 boat at Braunton Burrows.{{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1858 |volume=4 |issue=28 |pages=30–31 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/04/28/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-etc}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Arklow}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Cahore}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Kilmore}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|27|ft|m}}

| 5

|{{lbs|Penmon}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Rye}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Seaton Carew}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Walmer}}

1857

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Youghal}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Aberdovey}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1859 |volume=4 |issue=32 |pages=138–139 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations, &c. |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/04/32/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-etc}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Ardmore}}

1858

| —

| {{nowrap|{{cvt|32|ft|m}}}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Bacton}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Brighton}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|34|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Cromer}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Dover}}

1858

| Havelock

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Fraserburgh}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Groomsport}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Hastings}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Holyhead}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Mundesley}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Palling}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Rosslare Fort}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Skerries}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1860 |volume=4 |issue=36 |pages=246–249 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations… |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/04/36/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-belonging-to-or-in-connexion-with-the-national-life-boat-institution}}

1858

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Winterton}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Ayr}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| Carmarthen Bay

1859

| Gertrude

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Carnsore}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Cullercoats}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| Dundalk

1859

| Christopher Ludlow

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Dungarvan}}

| Unnamed until 1869.

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Exmouth}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Fleetwood}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Fowey}}

| {{cite book| title = Fowey Lifeboats|last = Leach|first = Nicholas |publisher = Tempus Publishing |date = 2002 | isbn=0-7524-2378-9 |pages= 14–16, 142}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| Lizard

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Lossiemouth}}

1859

| Reigate

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Newcastle}}

1859

| Thomas Boys of Brighton

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Rhoscolyn}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Tramore}}

1859

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Whitburn}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| Banff

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Brighstone Grange}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| Brooke

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Buckie}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1861 |volume=4 |issue=40 |pages=386–389 |title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations… |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/04/40/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-belonging-to-or-in-connection-with-the-national-life-boat-institution}}

1860

| Lord Murray

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 6

|{{lbs|Campbeltown}}

| Reported as 10 oars from 1869.{{cite web| title = Campbeltown station history | website = RNLI | url = https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/campbeltown-lifeboat-station/station-history-campbeltown | access-date = 25 February 2024}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Dungeness}}

1860

| Pringle Kid

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Irvine}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Newquay}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|North Berwick}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

| Orme's Head

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Penarth}}

1860

| Alexandra

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Penzance}}

1860

| Brave Robert Shedden

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Porthcawl}}

1860

| Laura Countess of Antrim

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Portrush}}

1860

| Polly and Lucy

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|St Andrews}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|St Ives}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|35|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Selsey}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Silloth}}

1860

| Jessie Knowles

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Southport}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Thurso}}

1860

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Tyrella}}

1861

| Evelyn Wood

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Aberystwyth}}

| {{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1863 |volume=5 |issue=48 |pages=208–211|title=Statement of the several life-boats, stations… |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/05/48/statement-of-the-several-life-boats-belonging-to-or-in-connection-with-the-national-life-boat-institution}}

1861

| Helen Lees

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Kirkcudbright}}

1861

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Scarborough}}

| On station 26 September but wrecked 2 November 1861.{{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1862 |volume=5 |issue=43 |pages=1–2 |title=The destruction of the Scarborough life-boat |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/05/43/desctruction-of-the-scarborough-life-boat}}

1861

| —

| {{cvt|37|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Walmer}}

1861

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Whitby}}

1861

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Winchelsea}}

1862

| Hope

| {{cvt|34|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Appledore}}

1862

| —

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Broughty Ferry}}

| {{cite web| title = Broughty Ferry station history | website = RNLI | url = https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/broughty-ferry-lifeboat-station/station-history-broughty-ferry | access-date = 25 February 2024}}

1862

| {{nowrap|Old George Irlam of Liverpool}}

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

| {{Lbs|Drogheda No.1}}

1862

| Edward Wasey

| {{cvt|32|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Fleetwood}}

1862

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Howth}}

1862

| —

| {{cvt|34|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Kingstown}}

1862

| Prince Consort

| {{cvt|34|ft|m}}

| 7

|{{lbs|Plymouth}}

1862

| —

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Poolbeg}}

1862

| Louisa Hall

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

| St Sampson

1862

| Mary

| {{cvt|33|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Scarborough}}

1862

| Ipswich

| {{cvt|33|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Thorpeness}}

1862

| Constance

| {{cvt|33|ft|m}}

| 10

|{{lbs|Tynemouth}}

1862

| Pelican

| {{cvt|34|ft|m}}

| 12

|{{lbs|Withernsea}}

1863

| —

| {{cvt|28|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Kingsgate}}

1863

| Agar Robartes

| {{cvt|30|ft|m}}

|{{lbs|Porthleven}}

Self-righter lifeboats from 1863

At the time of the annual report in 1863, the RNLI had 124 stations of which 99 were operating lifeboats to Peake's design and 6 to {{lbb|Beeching}}'s. The remainder were non-self-righting including 7 {{lbc|Norfolk and Suffolk}} and 2 {{lbb|Richardson}} tubular lifeboats. After this time the reports no longer listed the class of lifeboat although mention was sometimes made when a non-standard design was provided. The design that had evolved was generally referred to as a 'self-righting' or 'self-righter' lifeboat. The design continued to evolve and new features were tried. Some used water ballast like Beeching's but with lighter construction as used by Peake.{{cite magazine |magazine=Life-boat |date=1862 |volume=5 |issue=46 |page=154 |last=Ward |first=John Ross |title=Lecture on life-boats |url=https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/05/46/lecture-on-life-boats}}

George Lennox Watson was appointed the RNLI's naval architectural adviser in 1887. He produced a prototype {{Lbc|Watson}} non-self righting boat in 1888, but self-righting boats with many of the features designed by Peake continued to be built until 1916. Most were either {{cvt|35|ft|m}} or {{cvt|37|ft|m}} long.{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Richie |last2=Denton |first2=Tony |title=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024|date=2024 |publisher=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society |pages=4–29}}

References

Category:Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats