Once the decision had been taken to fit all new life-boats with radar it was clear that the design of the 37-foot Oakley class of self-righting life-boat would have to be modified appreciably to enable radar to be fitted. The opportunity was therefore taken to re-examine the design in depth and in detail in the light of experience gained in operating and maintaining these lifeboats over a period of 14 years.

One outcome of this examination was a decision to redesign the hull so that the selfrighting potential derived entirely from the hull form itself and the system of transferring water ballast could be dispensed with. This entails substantial increase in the volume of the superstructure in order to gain the buoyancy needed to bring the life-boat into an upright position after capsize. A wheelhouse with a roof of sandwich construction to give buoyancy with a high moment value was essential to the new design, although judging from opinions expressed on the coast, the time had arrived when serious consideration would need to be given to the provision of a wheelhouse on any new offshore life-boat project.

The revised superstructure is continued forward to meet the fore endbox to form a cabin instead of the previous open fore cockpit.

The salient features of the 37-foot 6-inch Rother design are: (a) Hull form generally as 37-foot Oakley life-boat.

(b) Hull framing, structural members and skin planking generally as 37-foot Oakley life-boat.

(c) Engine room watertight double bottom as dry ventilated compartment to obviate flooding of the engine room in the event of the skin planking being holed.

(d) Bulkheads, double bottom top, engine bearers, decks and lockers built of marine plywood to simplify construction and cut building costs.

(e) Wheelhouse, open at the after end, with buoyancy compartment formed in roof.

(f) Radar scanner, located on wheelhouse roof, to hinge down aft to minimise overall height, which is of considerable importance for these housed boats.

(g) Radar display unit and radio housed in recesses in the instrument bulkhead at fore end of the wheelhouse. (h) Forward cabin for survivors and stowage of equipment.

(i) Anchor stowed in hinged stanchion, starboard side, with cable operated by electric capstan.

The engines are twin Ford/Thornycroft type 250 naturally aspirated four-stroke marine diesels rated at 52 s.h.p. at 2,000 r.p.m. driving outboard turning propellers through 2 : 1 reduction gearboxes. These engines are equipped with electric starters, alternative hand starting through Simms spring starters integrally mounted, and 24 volt 60 amp. alternators.

Electronic equipment comprises radar, medium frequency radio telephone, very high frequency radio telephone and echo sounder.

Leading dimensions and particulars of 37-foot 6-inch Rother class life-boat: Length, between perpendiculars 37 feet 6 inches Beam, moulded 11 feet 6 inches Draught ' 3 feet 6 inches Displacement, loaded, with crew 13 tons Speed 8 knots Endurance, at full speed 180 miles Grew 7.