RNLI Y Class - show and tell please!

[Max...]

I'm guessing more than one Ribnet member has one of these? - can you share some nice big detailed photos and info if you do? Interested in finding out more about them, history, dimensions, equipment, construction, capability etc. Thanks!

:thumbs

[m chappelow]

Mid 1970,s .
First ones were Zodiac Mark 1 and were 10 ft 6 inch or 3.2 mtrs long ,,beam 4 ft 10inch grey colour.

2nd ones were Zodiac mk 2 and were slightly longer at 11ft 4inch 0r 3.45 mtrs long ,,beam 5 ft 3 inch . some were black in colour .

3rd ones made by Avon at 11ft 6inch or 3.5 mtrs . Beam 5ft 4inch or 1.63 mtrs all are grey in colour ,

4th generation avon all now orange in colour.

Early ones were launched from Arun class boats by a tubular steel ramp down the back of the wheelhouse . now launched by crane davit on severn class boats or on the Tamar class boat from a garage on the stern transom door.

Equipment wise very basic, the Avon one are similar to the D class in constuction.
one Flexi fuel bladder is carried on board but has facility to carry another one on the port side if needed,
Engines on the first ones were Evinrude 20 hp ,then 15 hp mariners on the later ones,
There has been a few changes to the anchor box over the years , plastic boxes and now a purpose built g.r.p box and lid.
compass location same as D class ,

zodiac self bailers were very small and a change was made to the later ones Avon have 2 and again are similar to a D class.

mattrass /crash/ mat,, same as d class.

Floorboard tension on the zodiacs were standard zodiac thrust board on the Avons 2 galvanised bottle screws are used ,

A few have had minor modifications for use in flood rescue ,
and a standard basket stretcher will just fit in one .

[Max...]

Thanks for that - just realised this should be in the SIB section.

Can you share any pics or links to topics featuring your boat or others on here? What's the keel shape - typical very shallow V formed by an inflatable tube?

[m chappelow]

Originally Posted by Max...

Thanks for that - just realised this should be in the SIB section.

Can you share any pics or links to topics featuring your boat or others on here? What's the keel shape - typical very shallow V formed by an inflatable tube?

keel is quite broad an deep

[chris123]

Mart has pretty much covered everything, just to add:

Compared to a commercial SIB, the Y boat is not just heavy duty, but plain heavy. The floorboards on the Avon version are about 1" thick marine ply.

Performance wise, with a 9.9HP 4 stroke outboard it will top out at about 13 knots with two adults on board, with a 15HP 4 stroke OB it will hit 17 knots.

A few bits of footage of Y boats in service:

Peterhead Y-boat searching for missing person

Peterhead assist injured climber

YouTube - ‪blueteenyweeny's Channel‬‏

Tamar Y boat training

A few photos attached, as well as some more here:

Norfolk Broads Sibbing September 2009

and here:

Windermere Sibbing

Cheers

Chris

[Max...]

Fantastic, thanks Mart and Chris. I have a nice enough 'leisure' SIB but am a sucker for anything commercial like this - would make a nice project for the winter. Yours looks to be in superb original condition Chris.

Are there many of these about - what's the going rate?

Mart, from your first post, I'm unclear on full production dates - when are the most recent ones in the public domain likely to date from? Any issue with older ones coming apart after so many years?

Looking at the pics the keel I would class as pretty shallow though (like most SIBs of course) - does not look any deeper than my Zodiac air floor Fastroller. Still they seemed to get a lot of sea-holding out of them?

[chris123]

I got mine a couple of years ago, and I believe it was made in 1990, so any you see are likely to be 20+ years old. They usually sell off a few each year to RNLI staff and volunteers, but there aren't huge quantities out there.

There is a link to the RNLI's disposals coordinator here:

IMPA - International Maritime Pilots' Association

You can always try dropping him a line.

My previous SIB was an Avon S250 circa 1980 and still going strong when I sold it. I think within reason old Avons will outlast most things, and the Y boat is no exception.

The keel tube is a lot bigger diameter than my Avon S250 was, not sure how it compares with other SIBs. The 'brick outhouse' build quality does inspire confidence but it is still a hard ride in a chop.

Did I mention it is heavy . Boat with floorboards is 75KG ish - definitely needs a trailer in my opinion.

Cheers

Chris

[Max...]

Thanks Chris, PM sent.

[m chappelow]

Regarding the weight issue excl crew and with 15 hp outboard and equipment ,zodiac mk1 weigh,,,150 kgs.
zodiac mk2 ,,,,,,,,,,,150 kgs.
Avon ,,,,,,,,,,,196 kgs

Fuel bladder capacity . 6 gallons or 27.3 ltrs.

pic below with floor removed showing keel .
and bottom pic Zodiac taken from Mariner cat

[Max...]

Thanks Mart, sent you a PM too. Definitely got to find one of these for myself now so if anyone knows of one for sale.....