What's the difference between lifeboats and a normal boat?

Was the lifeboat sluggish to move forward / back compared to other monohulls? It takes too long to turn?

 

While I can appreciate your question, it's very subjective.
It behaved like a boat of its nature would... so, I guess the answer is "yes".

For the record, and without trying to insult you, I think it's a terrible platform for what may be your objective.

 

They are designed to be lifeboats... not pleasure boats.
They suck at everything but survival.

The closed probe nature of the OP's questions make it hard to convey the inappropriateness of what may be their intentions.
And look where they're from, the Internet... hmmm, I wonder if this is a bot?

 

They don't even seem that great at "survival" to me, maybe only good for short-term emergency rescue.

People crowded and without option of being belted down and expecting rescue Within a very short period of time? My guess is that you cannot always expect perfect sea, wave, or wind conditions where quick Rescue by more remote ships or helicopters is possible. Perhaps, severe conditions may have caused the necessity for evacuation in the first place. What if the mothership is sunk and unable to provide SOS in in time or shielding from possible severe conditions Etc..

 

I'm from the internet and you're from Error - limited view land. Everything is in order.
No insult taken. I am aware that lifeboats are not designed for speed or comfort. The specification for the lifeboat I'm scouting says >6knots in calm waters so I'm just confirming from other's experience.

 

big cruise ships routinely use big powered lifeboats for ship2shore, often because the ships are too damn big to dock at the fun destinations.
Seems like a neat idea and if nothing else everyone gets some practice doing the drills.

 

That is correct Squidly.
Have you seen the interiors of those "lifeboats"?
I would not put them anywhere near the same class of boat as what the OP is talking about.

 

I don't believe any luxury cruise ship subjects its passengers to such suffering. Getting into the lifeboat from the cruise ship is uncomfortable, but getting into the lifeboat from land is impossible (which is what you seem to suggest with the attached photo).
The photo probably refers to crew drills involving launching/raising the lifeboats or some similar exercise.

 

The ones I have seen use local ferries etc to get passengers ashore, and the US AC carriers do the same.

 

Of course, the passengers have to be brought ashore somehow, but I don't know if using lifeboats is the most comfortable option. I've also seen marines use nets hanging from the sides of ships to access the landing craft, which then take them ashore. I can't imagine the passengers willing to use that method.
Passenger ships have stairs ("royal staircase", in my language) that allow fairly convenient access to the landing craft (your local ferries).

 

"What's the difference between lifeboats and a normal boat?"

A lifeboat is a boat for your boat when your boat no longer boats. Simple! ... just like me.

 

Remember, always step UP...into the life raft/boat.....

 

In my local its not uncommon to see them using the life boats as pictured. We only have room for one cruise ship as weve only been blessed/cursed with them for a few years now. They hold a shocking amount of people, we call it the geriatric d day. The dock allocated for transfer requires the disembarking travelers(usually retirement age) to walk behind several canneries to get to our downtown. Many a joke about wishing the ww2 pill boxs still stood guard over the harbor. The shear volume of people a couple red top lifeboat can move is astounding.


With that said, during the wuflu a few guys started surplus lifeboat conversions. Dont think they were all that successful, there was one that showed up on marketplace and craigslist. Languised on the market and dropped down to its surplus price before conversion. Surviving isnt always thriving, can't imagine the ride in weather is pleasant despite it being capable of survival.

 

I have seen a couple of successful conversion to sail, but were the really old lifeboats with no motor and only oars.

 

Some people have done what you propose. But in my mind it would take a lot of renovation to make it liveable. The lifeboats used on ships don't have any amenities, just seats, bench type seats. Pretty uncomfortable if you have to sit in them for hours on end. This one has been in Port Townsend for years. I think it hasn't moved from that spot in a couple of decades.