SOMETIMES the story is put about that the R.N.L.I. is in the habit of burning life-boats which have been involved in accidents. The truth of the matter is that on a few occasions in the past, when life-boat hulls have been wrecked beyond repair, they have been stripped of worthwhile parts and then burnt. Generally it can be said that life-boats, like old soldiers, never die, they only fade away.

The life cycle of a typical R.N.L.I. boat begins with her construction in the hands of craftsmen to a rigid specification. Then the boat, after many months, is commissioned for service at a station. As the years go by the boat is successively modified to keep pace with new developments. Ultimately she joins the Institu- tion's reserve fleet. This means that she is likely to be called on at any time to take the place of a first line boat which has been damaged on service or is in need of a refit. Reserve boats on duty today—some were built in the early 1930s and have seen many vicissitudes—are stationed round Britain and Ireland.

CLAUSE IN CONTRACT When the R.N.L.I. considers that a life-boat is due for replacement by a new boat, she is withdrawn from service for public sale. It is because the Insti- tution can no longer guarantee a boat's 100 per cent effectiveness as a life-boat that there is a clause in the sales contract about ex-R.N.L.I, craft being used as life-boats. But for private use a retired R.N.L.I. life-boat is one of the strongest and safest boats in the world.When a boat is to be sold, the R.N.L.I. notify the people interested—usually there is a waiting list—and they stress that the highest offer will not necessarily beaccepted. They state that the boat is offered 'as and where she lies' and that the Institution must not be put to any expense in connection with the removal of the boat from its retirement berth.

Plans and drawings showing the layout of the boat for sale can generally be inspected at the head office of the R.N.L.I. at 42 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.I, or prints can be supplied to genuine applicants.

The Institution gives the various more important measurements which would interest a prospective buyer, also describing the type and capability of the engine within the craft. However, it is stressed that although the engines of a boat have been well maintained they do not give any condition or warranty as to the state of fitness of the engines which must be taken by the buyer with any current faults and imperfections.

In the agreement between the buyer of a life-boat and the Institution it is stated that the buyer is 'not to reinstate the name of the boat or any of the Institution's badges or inscriptions on the said boat or to have her painted like a life-boat, or use her as a life-boat, or part with her without receiving a written undertaking that she will not be so used or painted'.

CRAFT DESIGNED A feature of R.N.L.I. boats is that they are craft designed to withstand extreme conditions and are unsinkable. They are attractive for certain types of work—as pilot boats, for conversion for pleasure, for fishing and so on.

It is essential that prospective buyers should know a fair amount about the type of construction so as not to be misled. Some of the life-boat types which come on the market have no cabin shelter. Some have little or no below-deck space without the removal of the air cases.

The demand for retired life-boats continues and types likely to be for sale over the next few years are 41-foot, 46-foot and 46-foot 9-inch Watsons, the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool class, and several 51-foot Barnett life-boats..