46ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 46ft 9in Watson-class |
| Builders: |
|
| Operators: |
 RNLI
|
| Preceded by: | 46ft Watson-class |
| Succeeded by: | 47ft Watson-class |
| Cost: | £17,000-£34,000 |
| Built: | 1947-1956 |
| In service: | 1947-1989 |
| Completed: | 28 |
| Lost: | 1 |
| Retired: | 27 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 46ft 9in Watson |
| Displacement: | 22 tons |
| Length: | 46 ft 9 in (14.25 m) |
| Beam: | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) |
| Propulsion: | (As built) 2 × 40bhp Ferry VE4 4-cylinder diesel |
| Speed: | 8 knots |
| Crew: | 8 |
The 46 ft 9in Watson-class lifeboat was a non self-righting displacement hull lifeboat built between 1947 and 1956 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution between 1947 and 1989.
After the final three 46ft Watson-class boats had been completed in 1945/6, production switched to the slightly longer 46 ft 9in type in 1947. The first five boats were very similar in appearance to the final 46 ft types, with aft cockpits, turtle shaped shelters and funnel exhausts. In 1948, however, the deck and superstructure layout was completely redesigned. A new aluminium structure featured an open midships cockpit, with a large cabin aft of the cockpit and a smaller cabin forward which gave access to the engine room.
The wooden hulled 46 ft 9in Watson-class was built in two different variations, with the first five closely resembling the preceding 46 ft type. From 1948 the design was completely revised to provide a midships steering position in an open cockpit. There was a large aft survivor cabin which also housed the radio. At the rear of this cabin was a small aft cockpit with a hatch for stretchers to be passed in and an emergency helm position. A smaller forward cabin gave access to the engine room and contained the engine controls. The boats were powered by the same twin 40 bhp Ferry VE4 installation as the earlier boats, but the exhaust was taken up the foremast to outlets well above the deck. The 46 ft 9in Watsons had long lives and were updated through their careers. The first major modification was the enclosing of the cockpit, done to all boats from 1960 onwards. The wheelhouse fitted resembled that of the 47ft Watson-class but there was no room to install sliding doors, weathershields being installed instead. Radar was later installed on the wheelhouse roof and the original aerial rigging and the aft mast was removed and replaced by pole aerials. Most, but not all, of the boats were re-engined with various examples of Ford based 6-cylinder diesel engines as described below. Finally, from the early 1980s all of the midships steering types (except ON 908, lost in the Fraserburgh disaster) were fitted with an air bag on the aft cabin roof to give a once only self-righting capability.
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