Boston Whaler-class lifeboat

The Boston Whaler-class lifeboat was an A-class lifeboat, formerly operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was replaced by the Atlantic 21.^[1][2]

Class overview
Name	Boston Whaler class
Builders	Boston Whaler
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by	McLachlan
Succeeded by	Atlantic 21
Built	1985
In service	1985–1994
Completed	1
Retired	1
General characteristics
Length	20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Beam	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion	2 x 90 hp Evinrude diesels
Speed	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement	2–3

History

On 21 January 1985, the RNLI placed a 20-foot 6in Rigid fibreglass Boston Whaler Outrage lifeboat on service at Poole Lifeboat Station in Dorset.^[3]

The boat had primarily been funded in Poole, from the 1981 Poole mayor's appeal, the Round Table and 'Beating the Bounds' collections. At a naming ceremony held at Poole Yacht Club on Wed 8 May 1985, Councillor P. J. Coles (former mayor) named the lifeboat Sam and Iris Coles (A-513) in memory of his parents.^[4]

Only one lifeboat of this rigid fibreglass type was employed by the RNLI, and was the last surviving rigid Inshore Lifeboat in service, following the withdrawal of the McLachlan-class lifeboats in 1988. The lifeboat had been retained at Poole due to the shallow conditions in Poole Harbour, but whilst away for maintenance, it was realised that a B-class lifeboat was equally effective. Sam and Iris Coles was withdrawn for use at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre on 28 November 1994, and replaced with a B-class (Atlantic 21).^[5]

Fleet

Op. No.[a]	Name	Built	In service	Station	Comments
A-513	Sam and Iris Coles	1985	1985–1994	Poole

1. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

• List of RNLI stations
• List of former RNLI stations
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats