Jeff Morris, the honorary archivist of the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society is a prolific source of booklets on individual lifeboat stations and historical lifeboat matters. Few issues of THE LIFEBOAT pass without an opportunity to review at least one addition to his list, and we have received no fewer than three new volumes for review in this issue: The Story of the Swanage Lifeboats by Jeff Morris Swanage received its latest lifeboat only last year, so the author's history of this station is right up to date, and likely to stay current for some while.

The new Mersey class Robert Charles Brown is the ninth lifeboat to be stationed at the Dorset town since its lifeboat station was founded in 1875, and The Story of The Swanage Lifeboats traces the history and work of each of them.

Packed with information and illustrated with contemporary and archive photographs - including the naming and launching of the town's second lifeboat in 1890 - the booklet will be of interest to anyone with an interest in the town.

Priced at £2.50 for direct sale, the booklet can be obtained from Mr E. Corbin, 41 Station Road, Swanage, Dorset for £3 including post and packing.

The Story of the Stromness Lifeboats by Jeff Morris For nearly 50 years after its foundation in 1867, on one of the 70 islands which make up the Orkneys off the north east coast of Scotland, Stromness was the RNLI's northernmost lifeboat station.

Even today there is but one station which can claim a slightly higher latitude and this gives a clue to the kind of weather which can be experienced in the area.

This booklet looks at the history of the station and the six lifeboats which have been stationed there, from the first pulling and sailing boats to the latest Arun class.

Several of the more notable services are recounted in detail and there are many photographs of lifeboats casualties and the boathouses.

The booklet can be obtained from the author at 14 Medina Road, Foleshill, Coventry CV6 5JB for £2.50 including post and packing.

Ex Lifeboats of the RNLI by Tony Denton published and sold by Jeff Morris at £2.50, address as above.

Tony Denton's well-researched look at all known lifeboats, their history, conversion and their fate or last known whereabouts makes for a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in lifeboats.

Beginning with a short history of the evolution of the lifeboat, class names and identifying features the booklet moves on to give hints and tips on spotting ex-lifeboats and then lists the history of all known boats in order of Official Number and also alphabetically by name. Beginning at the beginning the numerical listing starts with Grace Darling, ONI, which was broken-up in 1910.

An interesting point made by the author concerns difficulties in the future when trying to recognise ex-lifeboats once the familiar double-ended profile disappears and modern lifeboats begin to appear on the disposal list.Sailors in the RAF The story of the Marine Branch of the Royal Air Force by Keith Beardlow published by Patrick Stephens at £17.99 ISBN 1-85260-407-7 The fast rescue launches of the Marine Branch of the RAF may not have been what many people thought of as 'lifeboats' but they were indeed lif esa vers to many people - servicemen and civilians - particularly during the war years.

Yet these rescue launches were just the tip of the iceberg, developed by a section, founded just 11 days after the RAF itself, formed to carry out more mundane tasks such as providing back-up for Flying Boats, towing targets, recovering torpedoes and patrolling gunnery and bombing ranges.

The range of vessels operated by the Marine Branch was wide, as merely flicking through the illustrations in this fascinating volume show.

There are of course the glamorous high speed launches, but there are also concrete lighters, planing 16ft dinghies, pinnaces and even rescue floats.

The author spent ten years with the Marine Branch and so he speaks from experience as he recounts the branch's activities both in the UK and abroad. The Branch was privatised in 1986, but its 70 year history makes interesting reading, especially when enlivened by personal recollection and anecdote.

Yachtmaster by Pat Langley-Price and Philip Ouvry published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £14.99 ISBN 0-7136-3772-2 The RYA/DTp Yachtmaster certificate is to be encouraged as a way of ensuring a level of competence for pleasure boat sailors, and this second edition makes a thorough primer for the shorebased part of the syllabus.

Although intended to be factual, rather than a 'good read' the book is easy to follow and understand and covers a wide range of topics plus specimen questions and answers.

Recommended.

ALSO RECEIVED Motor Sailing by Dag Pike published by Adlard Coles Nautical at £18.99 ISBN 0-7136-3695-5 A comprehensive look at an increasingly popular type of yacht, but rather disappointing in it's broad-brush and rather superficial approach. Too many manufacturer's hand-out photos and diagrams of the obvi- Sail South to the Sun by Clifford Stillwell published by Waterline at £16.95 ISBN 1-85310-375-6 How to set about what must be every yachtsman's dream. Not a heavy, detailed tome but points to look for in both boat and lifestyle by someone who has managed it. A dangerous read for those so inclined!Please note that books reviewed on these pages are NOT obtainable from the KN1.I, unless specifically stated in the review.

An address will be given in the reviewit the book is only obtainable from an individual or single source, otherwise copies will be available trom bookshops. Readers of Tin Lu-hiio i who wish to obtain copies should contact a good bookseller, giving the f u l l title, publisher's name and the ISBN (International Standard Book Number).

We regret that we cannot undertake to contact publishers or bookshops on behalf of readers..