Facts and figures Provisional statistics as at 15 June 1989, show that so far this year: The RNLI's lifeboats were launched 871 times (an average of more than 5 launches a day) More than 332 lives were saved (an average of 2 people rescued each day) More than 41 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats were in winds of Force 5 and above More than 43 per cent of all services were to pleasure craft There are 263 lifeboats on station, with a further 101 in the relief fleet 118,158 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.