H-class lifeboat

H-class rescue hovercraft ^[1] serve the shores of the United Kingdom as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet. A modified Type 470TD design built by Griffon Hoverwork, they were developed to operate in tidal areas such as Morecambe Bay, where strandings by incoming tides can have fatal consequences; and in waters too shallow for normal craft.

RNLI Hovercraft H001 Molly Rayner in 2005
Class overview
Name	H-class rescue hovercraft
Builders	Griffon Hoverwork
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Preceded by	None
Built	2002–2009
In service	2002–
Completed	7
Active	7
General characteristics
Displacement	3.86 tonnes
Length	6.88 m (22.6 ft)
Beam	3.36 m (11.0 ft)
Draught	N/A
Propulsion	2 x VW 1.9 turbo diesels
Speed	30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Endurance	3 hours
Capacity	10
Complement	2-4

Hovercraft were also assigned to three other stations, New Brighton, Hunstanton, and Southend-on-Sea. In 2016, the New Brighton Hovercraft H-005 Hurley Spirit was reassigned to Hoylake.

In 2023, trials were carried out by the RNLI, assisted by the team at Hoylake station, to evaluate different crafts being considered as a potential successor to the current hovercraft.^[2]

Fleet

RNLB Hurley Spirit approaching the old slipway at Hoylake old lifeboat station.

Op.No.[a]	Name	In service[3]	Principal Station	Comments
H-001	Molly Rayner	2002–	Relief fleet	[4]
H-002	The Hurley Flyer	2002–	Morecambe	[5]
H-003	Hunstanton Flyer (Civil Service No.45)	2003–	Hunstanton	[6]
H-004	Vera Ravine	2004–	Southend-on-Sea	[7]
H-005	Hurley Spirit	2004–2016 2016–	New Brighton Hoylake	[8]
H-006	John Russell	2005–	Relief fleet	[9]
H-007	Samburgh	2009–	Relief fleet

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