RNLI Shannon Class Build Video

A 12 minute 40 second video about building the RNLI Shannon Class Lifeboats at the RNLI centre in Poole, England:

A website with similar information: https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2024/july/how-to-build-a-shannon-class-lifeboat

The Shannon Class is 13.6 m / 44' 7" long with displacement of 15 tons. Hull and superstructure constructon is prepreg SPRINT glass/carbon fiber and expoxy composite. Ab0ut 15oo tabs and fittings with fasteners are glued to the structure for attaching components.

 

In a previous life 30 odd years ago, I was working in the design office of the RNLI HQ in Poole.
We were mostly involved in the development of the Severn (17 metres) and Trent (14 metres) fast afloat boats.
One of my colleagues then is now the manager of the in-house yard that builds the boats.
They certainly are amazing beasts - I remember going out on sea trials on the prototype Severn, and the Trials Coxswain was told to do his best to break her - but he couldn't, despite going at full speed (20+ knots) into a Force 7 - we needed to be strapped into our seats otherwise we would have been airborne from the g-forces.

Back then, all of us in the design office were keen on water jet propulsion, but the Operations department was very prejudiced against them - I am pleased to see that they have now finally seen the light, years later!

Here is a very impressive video of a Shannon beach landing at 25 knots - it puts to shame even the lunatic jet ski operators here who like to see how far up the beach they can run their jet ski.