LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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Additional Life-Boat Stations and New Life-Boats

FRASERURGH, SCOTLAND. A life-boat station has been established at Frazerburgh by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, in conjunction with the Harbour Commissioners of that port. The life-boat is on the Institution's plan, designed by Mr. PEAKE ; she is 30 ft. long, and rows tea oars, double- banked; she is supplied with a transporting carriage of the latest design. The life-boat and her carriage were provided by the Institution, and the Harbour Commissioners have built a substantial boat-house to keep them in.

This is the first life-boat station established in Scotland in connection with the Institution, Berwick-on-Tweed being previously its northernmost station. The cost of this boat, viz. 1801., was munificently presented to the Institution by WM. McKERRELL, Esq., of Bath, and Hill-house, Ayrshire, being the second life-boat presented to the Society by that philanthropic gentleman. Numerous lives have been lost in the neighbourhood of Frazerburgh, both from wrecked vessels and from fishing-boats overtaken by a gale. This boat has been named the Havelock, at the request of Mr. McKERRELL, after the late lamented hero, Sir HENRY HAVELOCK, Bart.

CROMER.—A new life-boat on the same plan, 34 ft. in length and rowing twelve oars, double-banked, has been stationed at Cromer by the Institution to replace the.old life-boat there, now worn out. A new carriage has likewise been provided for her, Cromer is one of the stations recently transferred to lie Institution by the Norfolk Lifeboat Association.

BACTON.—A new life-boat on the same design, 32 ft. long, and rowing 10 oars, double-banked, has been sent by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION to Bacton, on the Norfolk coast, in lieu of the old lifeboat previously there. A new boat-house and carriage have also been provided by the Institution.

GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK.—Two new life-boats have been sent to Yarmouth; the one, a large boat furnished with sails, for proceeding to wrecks on the dangerous outlying shoals of that locality. The other, a smaller boat, to be used in the event of boat accidents, or in aid of vessels wrecked on the shore. Both boats are self-righting; the larger one was originally built by J. BEECHING AND SONS, on the design which obtained the Northumberland prize; but it has since been modified to Mr. PEAKE'S design, its water ballast being removed and replaced by an iron keel and wooden ballast.

This boat is 38 ft. long, and rows 12 oars.

She is at present to be considered an experimental boat only, the boatmen on that part of the coast, who have been accustomed to a very different description of boat, as yet entertaining prejudices against her. The old and new boats will therefore both remain at the station for some time, that their relative sailing properties may be fairly tested together.

The smaller life-boat is 30 ft. long, and rows six oars, single-banked, being exclusively a rowing boat. She is provided with a new and improved transporting carriage.

A very superior and capacious boat-house has been built sufficiently large to contain both the new boats, and, with the aid of the local Committee formed to superintend the management of the establishment, it is hoped that this important station may become one of the most perfect and best managed in the United Kingdom. The cost of the smaller boat was presented to the Institution by a benevolent lady who had already given it the cost of another life-boat.

MUNDESLEY. — A new life-boat on PEAKE'S design has also been sent to Mundesley, on. the Norfolk coast, to replace the old boat which was worn out. A new carriage has also been provided for her. This boat is 30 ft. long and rows 10 oars, double-banked. She is the seventh new lifeboat which the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has placed on the Norfolk coast since the Norfolk Association transferred its life-boat establishments to it last year. The greater part of the cost of these new boats has been defrayed from the funded capital of the Association handed over to the Institution with its life-boat establishments.

The Institution will, however, have incurred a considerable expense from its own funds.

ROSSLARE, WEXFORD.—A new life-boat has been placed by the NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION at Rosslare point, at the entrance of Wexford Harbour. She is 28 ft. long, and rows six oars, single-banked.

She is provided with a transporting carriage, furnished with BOYDELL'S endless railway.

A local Committee has been formed at Wexford to manage the establishment. In consequence of the numerous shoals and banks off Wexford Harbour, a life-boat has been much needed there.

CARNSORE, IRELAND.—A lifeboat establishment has been recently formed by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at Carnsore, on the coast of Wexford, Ireland; a new boat and carriage have been sent there, and a boat-house is in course of erection.

The boat is 30 ft. long, and rows six oars, single-banked. Her cost was presented to the Institution by a lady as a thank-offering in testimony of her recent providential escape from drowning when upset from a boat.

TRAMORE.—A life-boat station has also been founded by the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at Tramore, near Waterford.

This boat, which is also 30 ft. long, and rowing six oars, single-banked, has been forwarded to that place, together with a transporting carriage, and a substantial boat-house is being built for their reception.

Tramore is a blind harbour, frequently mistaken for the entrance to the Waterford river by foreign ships. A wreck, accompanied by loss of life, occurred here last year, which induced the inhabitants of Tramore and Waterford to ask the aid of the Institution in the establishment of a lifeboat.

A local Committee of management has been formed, as usual, and subscriptions locally raised in aid of the undertaking.