Facts and figures Provisional statistics as at 14 November 1988, show that so far in 1988: The RNLI's lifeboats had been launched 3,387 times (an average of more than 9 launches a day) More than 1,099 lives had been saved (an average of 3 people rescued each day) More than 43 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats were in winds of Force 5 and above More than 57 per cent of all services were to pleasure craft There are 262 lifeboats on station, with a further 63 in the relief fleet 117,617 lives have been saved since the RNLI was founded in 1824 Costs The cost of running the RNLI in 1988 was £34m. The approximate current cost of building a lifeboat is: 16ft D class inflatable - £9,000 21ft Atlantic rigid inflatable - £42,000 38ft 6in Mersey - £360,000 47ft Tyne-£590,000 52ft Arun - £600,000.