W & S | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2996

Status Registered

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Details

Function Service Vessel

Subfunction Lifeboat

Location Harwich

Vessel type Watson Class Lifeboat

Current use Ongoing conservation

Available to hire Yes

Available for excursions Yes

Construction

Builder White, J Samuel & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight

Built in 1930

Hull material Wood

Rig None

Number of decks 2

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 2

Primary engine type Inboard diesel

Dimensions

Length: Overall

46.50 feet (14.17m)

Breadth: Beam

12.50 feet (3.81m)

Depth

9.00 feet (2.74m)

History

Built by J. Samuel White & Co, Cowes, Isle of Wight, in 1930, a Watson Class lifeboat. W & S was an RNLI Lifeboat for 40 years. She spent 30 years of this as a Penlee lifeboat where she completed outstanding services saving over 100 lives. Some of the services were award rescues. This boat completed special services during the war years, and she has been the subject of many books and films.

W & S was found abandoned in a Falmouth field in 2013, requiring extensive restoration works. She was transported to Harwich for the duration of the works, which were estimated to take 2 - 3 years.

Update, June 2024: Vessel under new ownership. A fundraiser has been set up to help restore the lifeboat and return her to the people of Mousehole.

Significance

W & S was an RNLI Lifeboat for 40 years, purposefully built for the RNLI Penlee lifeboat station. She spent 30 years of this as a Penlee lifeboat where she completed outstanding services saving over 100 lives. Some of the services were award rescues. This boat completed special services during the war years, and she has been the subject of many books and films.

W & S is one of the first motor lifeboats and the first to carry a radio for communications. She is the longest serving lifeboat from one lifeboat station because Cox and crew had total confidence in the design, leading to outstanding medal rescues.

Key dates

1929/1930
Vessel was built in Cowes, Isle of Wight
1930-1962
On station as Penlee Lifeboat
1930-1970
Served in the RNLI fleet
2010-2013
Various private owners
2013-2016
Purchased by present owner and undergoing restoration works to make vessel seaworthy
2020
Vessel remains under restoration in 2020. The delay in works has been due to set backs with the machinery and in particular the port gearbox which needed to be rebuilt by specialist engineers
2024
New Owner