Y-class lifeboat

The Y-class lifeboat is a class of small inflatable rescue boat, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Y-class lifeboat deployed from Severn-class All-weather lifeboat
Class overview
Name	Y-class
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
General characteristics
Length	3 m (9.8 ft)
Propulsion	1 × 15 hp (11 kW) outboard engine[1]
Speed	25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Range	Within visual range of ALB
Complement	2

The Y-class is mainly used as a small tender carried on board the larger RNLI All-weather lifeboats. They were originally carried aboard the Arun-class lifeboats, but are now normally found on the Severn-class and Tamar-class lifeboats. They are also used as part of the RNLI's flood rescue team.^[2]

The lifeboat is powered by a single 15-hp outboard engine. It usually carries a crew of two and is primarily used for incidents where the casualty is near or on the shore, and where the larger All-weather lifeboat cannot get close in due to rocks or water depth.^[1][2]

Other small boats operated by the RNLI include the Arancia-class beach rescue boats, the X-class and the XP-class lifeboats.^[3]

Historical fleet information is correct with reference to the Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbooks 2004–2024. Latest information is referenced to the 2025 handbook.^[4]

Launching

Y-class boat aboard a Tamar-class lifeboat

The Y-class lifeboat can be launched from a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat using the integral crane, or manually, depending on the fit-out of the Severn lifeboat.^[1]

On the Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat, the Y-class boat is housed in a built-in recessed chamber, within the stern section of the Tamar-class lifeboat. Access to this inflatable tender is achieved by lifting a section of deck and lowering a transom which doubles as a ramp. This allows the tender to be easily launched and recovered.^[5]

Y-class fleet

Op. No.[a]	Host All-weather Lifeboat[4]	Station	Dates	Comments
Y-87	17-07 John and Margaret Doig	Valentia	2010
Y-94	17-12 Edna Windsor	Barra Island	2010
Y-96	52-38 City of Glasgow III	Troon	2004
Y-96	17-09 City of London II	Dover	2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-108	47-036 Kenneth Thelwall II	Walton and Frinton	2009, 2010
Y-113	17-19 Ernest and Mary Shaw	Campbeltown	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-114	52-39 Mickie Salvensen	Barry Dock	2005, 2006
Y-122	17-15 Bryan and Gordon	Ballyglass	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-128	17-06 David Kirkaldy	Aran Islands	2009, 2010
Y-131	17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon	Lerwick	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-132	17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	Yarmouth (IOW)	2009, 2010
Y-135	17-03 Albert Brown	Harwich	2009
Y-136	17-08 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II	Islay	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-136	17-18 Tom Sanderson	Stornoway	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-137	52-45 Donald and Barbara Broadhead	Rosslare Harbour	2004
Y-137	17-26 Henry Alston Hewat	Mallaig	2010
Y-137	17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen	Stromness	2012
Y-139	17-14 Charles Lidbury	Aith	2009, 2010
Y-142	17-13 Margaret Foster	Kirkwall	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-142	17-36 Ivan Ellen	Penlee	2010
Y-142	17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes	Torbay	2012
Y-143	17-11 The Whiteheads	St Mary's	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-143	17-24 Bon Accord	Aberdeen	2009
Y-145	17-26 Henry Alston Hewat	Mallaig	2009
Y-147	52-43 The Queen Mother	Thurso	2004
Y-149	17-15 Bryan and Gordon	Ballyglass	2009, 2010, 2012
Y-152	17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen	Stromness	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-152	17-08 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II	Islay	2009, 2010
Y-153	17-13 Margaret Foster	Kirkwall	2009, 2010, 2012
Y-154	17-12 Edna Windsor	Barra Island	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Y-156	17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes	Torbay	2009, 2010
Y-157	17-30 William Gordon Burr	Portrush	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-157	17-22 Myrtle Maud	Arranmore	2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-160	16-05 Helen Comrie	Longhope	2009
Y-162	17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland	Newhaven	2009
Y-163	17-03 Albert Brown	Harwich	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-163	17-20 Spirit of Northumberland	Tynemouth	2009, 2010
Y-164	17-24 Bon Accord	Aberdeen	2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-165	52-36 Roy and Barbara Harding	Castletownbere	2004
Y-166	17-20 Spirit of Northumberland	Tynemouth	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-166	17-42 The Taylors	Thurso	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-167	17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen	Stromness	2009, 2010, 2021, 2023, 2025
Y-168	17-37 William Blannin	Buckie	2010
Y-168	17-43 Donald and Barbara Broadhead	Rosslare Harbour	2023, 2024, 2025
Y-169	17-14 Charles Lidbury	Aith	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-169	17-11 The Whiteheads	St Mary's	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023
Y-170	17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon	Lerwick	2009, 2010, 2012
Y-171	17-32 Ernest and Mabel	Weymouth	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023
Y-173	17-22 Myrtle Maud	Arranmore	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Y-174	17-05 Pride of the Humber	Humber	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-174	17-04 Spirit of Guernsey	St Peter Port	2009, 2012
Y-174	17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey	Tobermory	2010
Y-174	17-03 Albert Brown	Harwich	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-175	17-24 Bon Accord	Aberdeen	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-175	17-05 Pride of the Humber	Humber	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-176	17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	Yarmouth (IOW)	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-176	17-40 Julian and Margaret Leonard	Lochinver	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2024, 2025
Y-177	17-26 Henry Alston Hewat	Mallaig	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-177	17-37 William Blannin	Buckie	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-178	17-07 John and Margaret Doig	Valentia	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Y-178	17-09 City of London II	Dover	2021
Y-178	16-09 Baltic Exchange III	Salcombe	2024, 2025
Y-179	17-09 City of London II	Dover	2009, 2010, 2012
Y-179	16-19 Irene Muriel Rees	Walton and Frinton	2023
Y-180	17-30 William Gordon Burr	Portrush	2009
Y-180	17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes	Torbay	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-180	17-18 Tom Sanderson	Stornoway	2009
Y-180	17-42 The Taylors	Thurso	2010
Y-181	17-29 Richard Cox Scott	Falmouth	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-181	17-44 Annette Hutton	Castletownbere	2009
Y-181	17-35 Sybil Mullen Glover	Plymouth	2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-182	52-28 Sir Max Aitken II	Longhope	2004
Y-182	17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey	Tobermory	2009
Y-183	17-43 Donald and Barbara Broadhead	Rosslare Harbour	2012
Y-184	17-30 William Gordon Burr	Portrush	2010, 2012
Y-185	17-32 Ernest and Mabel	Weymouth	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-185	17-04 Spirit of Guernsey	St Peter Port	2010, 2021, 2023, 2024
Y-186	17-18 Tom Sanderson	Stornoway	2010, 2012
Y-186	17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes	Torbay
Y-187	17-06 David Kirkaldy	Aran Islands	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-187	17-42 The Taylors	Thurso	2009, 2012
Y-187	17-18 Tom Sanderson	Stornoway	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-188	17-35 Sybil Mullen Glover	Plymouth	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Y-188	17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland	Newhaven	2021
Y-188	16-16 Molly Hunt	Appledore	2025
Y-189	17-37 William Blannin	Buckie	2009
Y-189	17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	Yarmouth (IOW)	2023, 2024
Y-189	17-04 Spirit of Guernsey	St Peter Port	2025
Y-189	–	Diverse Marine Ltd
Y-190	17-36 Ivan Ellen	Penlee	2009, 2012, 2021
Y-191	17-44 Annette Hutton	Castletownbere	2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-192	17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey	Tobermory	2012
Y-192	–	Yarmouth (IOW)		Spare not stored on any boat
Y-193	17-29 Richard Cox Scott	Falmouth	2009
Y-193	17-20 Spirit of Northumberland	Tynemouth	2021
Y-194	17-41 Christopher Pearce	Holyhead	2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-195	17-19 Ernest and Mary Shaw	Campbeltown	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-196	17-29 Richard Cox Scott	Falmouth Relief fleet	2010, 2012
Y-196	16-02 Haydn Miller	Tenby	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-197	17-43 Donald and Barbara Broadhead	Rosslare Harbour	2009, 2010, 2021
Y-198	17-03 Albert Brown	Harwich	2010
Y-199	17-35 Sybil Mullen Glover	Plymouth	2009
Y-199	17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland	Newhaven	2010, 2012
Y-200	16-05 Helen Comrie	Longhope	2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-201	16-04 Spirit of Padstow	Padstow	2012
Y-201	17-40 Julian and Margaret Leonard	Lochinver	2023
Y-201	17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	Yarmouth (IOW)	2025
Y-202	16-02 Haydn Miller	Tenby	2008, 2009
Y-202	17-14 Charles Lidbury	Aith	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-203	16-03 The Misses Robertson of Kintail	Peterhead	2009, 2010
Y-203	16-02 Haydn Miller	Tenby	2010, 2012
Y-203	16-11 Mark Mason	Angle	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-204	16-04 Spirit of Padstow	Padstow	2008, 2009, 2010
Y-204	16-03 The Misses Robertson of Kintail	Peterhead	2012
Y-204	17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey	Tobermory	2021
Y-204	17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland	Newhaven	2023, 2024, 2025
Y-205	16-05 Helen Comrie	Longhope	2007, 2008
Y-205	17-09 City of London II	Dover	2024, 2025
Y-206	17-34 Osier	Tynemouth	2023, 2024, 2025
Y-207	16-07 Lester	Cromer	2009, 2010, 2012
Y-207	17-36 Ivan Ellen	Penlee	2023, 2024, 2025
Y-208	16-08 Grace Dixon	Barrow	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-209	16-09 Baltic Exchange III	Salcombe	2009, 2010, 2012, 2021, 2023
Y-209	17-11 The Whiteheads	St Mary's	2024, 2025
Y-210	16-10 Edward and Barbara Prigmore	Sennen Cove	2010
Y-210	17-03 Albert Brown	Harwich	2012
Y-210	–	Scotland Regional Base
Y-211	16-11 Mark Mason	Angle	2010, 2012
Y-211	17-29 Richard Cox Scott	Falmouth	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-212	16-12 George Sullivan	St Helier	2010
Y-212	16-04 Spirit of Padstow	Padstow	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-213	16-14 City of London III	Sennen Cove	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-214	–	Falmouth Boat Co
Y-215	16-16 Molly Hunt	Appledore	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024
Y-216	16-18 Killarney	Kilmore Quay	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-217	16-17 Alfred Albert Williams	Bembridge	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-218	16-15 Enid Collett	Shoreham Harbour	2012, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-219	16-19 Irene Muriel Rees	Walton and Frinton	2012
Y-219	16-12 George Sullivan	St Helier	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-220	17-26 Henry Alston Hewat	Mallaig	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-221	17-08 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II	Islay	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-222	17-13 Margaret Foster	Kirkwall	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-223	17-07 John and Margaret Doig	Valentia	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-224	17-06 David Kirkaldy	Aran Islands	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-225	17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	Yarmouth (IOW)	2012
Y-227	17-12 Edna Windsor	Barra Island	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-228	17-20 Spirit of Northumberland	Tynemouth	2012
Y-228	17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon	Lerwick	2021, 2023, 2025
Y-229	17-15 Bryan and Gordon	Ballyglass	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-230	17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	Yarmouth (IOW)	2021
Y-230	17-24 Bon Accord	Aberdeen
Y-231	16-03 The Misses Robertson of Kintail	Peterhead	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-232	17-09 City of London II	Dover	2023
Y-232	17-04 Spirit of Guernsey	St Peter Port
Y-233	16-19 Irene Muriel Rees	Walton and Frinton	2021
Y-233	16-15 Enid Collett	Shoreham Harbour	2021
Y-233	–	Lowestoft Haven Marina
Y-234	17-37 William Blannin	Buckie	2012
Y-234	16-07 Lester	Cromer	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-235	17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen	Stromness	2024
Y-235	–	Relief fleet
Y-236	17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey	Tobermory	2023, 2024, 2025
Y-237	17-32 Ernest and Mabel	Weymouth	2024, 2025
Y-238	17-30 William Gordon Burr	Portrush	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-239	16-24 John D Spicer	Porthdinllaen	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-240	16-23 Diamond Jubilee	Eastbourne	2021, 2023
Y-240	16-23 Diamond Jubilee	Ramsgate	2024, 2025
Y-241	16-25 Kiwi	Moelfre	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-242	16-20 Rose	The Lizard	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-243	16-21 John Buchanan Barr	Portpatrick	2012, 2021, 2023, 2024
Y-244	16-22 Alan Massey	Baltimore	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-245	16-26 Norah Wortley	St Davids	2021, 2025
Y-246	17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes	Torbay	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Y-247	16-27 Roy Barker IV	The Mumbles	2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
–	16-01 Peter and Lesley-Jane Nicholson	Relief fleet
–	16-06 Frank and Anne Wilkinson	Relief fleet
–	16-10 Edward and Barbara Prigmore	Relief fleet
–	16-13 Victor Freeman	Relief fleet
–	17-17 Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No.43)	Relief fleet
–	17-27 Volunteer Spirit	Relief fleet
–	17-31 Roger and Joy Freeman	Relief fleet
–	17-33 Beth Sell	Relief fleet
–	17-38 Daniel L Gibson	Relief fleet
–	17-45 The Duke of Kent	Relief fleet
–	17-46 Margaret Joan and Fred Nye	Relief fleet

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