This is the first Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) Mersey Class Rescue boat. Built in 1988 for $2 million in today's dollars, it is a self-righting, aluminum hulled, dual engine, shallow draft workhorse.
“The Mersey is designed to be launched from a carriage (trailer), but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Its propellers are fully protected from damage when launching or in shallow water by partial tunnels and two bilge keels. Its low height can be further reduced by collapsing its mast and aerials which then allows it to be stored in a boathouse. A sealed cabin gives it a self-righting ability. Power comes from twin Caterpillar 285 hp turbo-charged engines (570 hp total). It carries 1,110 litres (290 US gal) of fuel to give it a range of 240 nautical miles (440 km). It has a crew of six and can carry an X Boat inflatable which it can deploy at sea. Its survivor compartment can carry 43 people, but more than 21 prevents self-righting should the boat capsize.” 1
I had been looking for a robust, no-nonsense, heavy-duty aluminum boat with a shallow draft for many years. I found the online listing for this boat in 2023, and it was located on Lake Erie in Canada. After visiting the boat, meeting with the owner, and having it surveyed, I realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I bought the boat in the fall of 2023 and rushed to get it across Lake Erie, through the entire Erie Canal, up the Hudson River and the Champlain Canal, and finally to Lake Champlain (Champlain Marina) just before the locks closed for the winter. This boat ended up being perfect for the canal with its shallow draft, low bridge clearance (tower easily folds), easy maneuverability (twin screw, high-torque motors), and great site lines (especially from the outdoor helm position).
Buying a boat that was manufactured in the U.K. in the 80s for commercial use, imported to Canada, and now into the United States was a challange. After a lot of work, the boat is properly imported, documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, and insured by a national carrier.
While this is a work boat, I've started to adapt it with a better setup for weekend adventures. 2024 has been a very busy year and I've not made it out on the boat as much as I would like, but I have gotten some great weekend trips anchored on Valcour Island, some day trips, and hope to continue using the boat into the late fall before taking it out for the winter.
One of the best parts of owning this boat is the level of interest and engagement about the boat everywhere I go, as it is unique in North America.
All lifeboats have a unique identification number. The first part of the number indicates RNLI class of vessel. Mersey Class lifeboats start with 12 because they are approximately 12m in length. The numbers after the dash refer to the build number. So the first Mersey built was given the number 12-001. A build number with three digits indicates a hull constructed of aluminium. Two digits indicate a hull constructed of fibre-reinforced composite (FRC). 2
This boat is "12-001" meaning that it is the very first aluminum Mersey class rescue vessel!
| Specification | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 13 tons | (14 long tons in rescue trim) |
| Beam | 13.1' | (4.0 meters) |
| Draft | 3.3' | (1.02 meters) |
| Air-Draft | 12'-1" | (folded mast) |
| Propulsion | 2x280 hp Caterpillar 3208T diesel | (210kW) |
| Speed | 18 mph | (16 knots) |
| Range (fast cruise) | 276 miles | (240 nmi) |
| Range (8.5 knots) | 407 miles | (354 nmi) |
| Capacity | 43 survivors | (self-righting up to 21) |
| Fuel Capacity | 288 gallons (2x144) | (1,088 liters 2x544) |
Wikipedia RNLI Mersey Class Specific: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mersey-class_lifeboat ↩
RNLI older page on Mersey boats: https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/mersey-class-lifeboat ↩
