Facts and figures Provisional statistics as at 30 May 1990, show that during 1990: The RNLI's lifeboats were launched 785 times (an average of some 5 launches a day) More than 215 lives were saved (an average of 1.5 people rescued each day) Nearly 27 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats were in winds of Force 7 and above Almost 45 per cent of all services were to pleasure craft There are 259 lifeboats on station, with a further 103 in the relief fleet 119,657 lives have been saved since the RNLI was founded in 1824 Costs The cost of running the RNLI in 1989 was £36m. The approximate current cost of building a lifeboat is: 16ft D class inflatable - £9,500 21ft Atlantic rigid inflatable - £45,000 38ft 6in Mersey - £455,000 47ft Tyne - £590,000 52ft Arun - £600,000.