LIFEBOAT SPECIFICATION

The St.Ives lifeboat JAMES STEVENS No10 was built in 1899

On 9th June 1898 the RNLI's Chief Inspector visited the St.Ives lifeboat station and he stated that the current 34ft / 10 oared lifeboat EXETER (2) "was not powerful enough for the work she had to do" The St.Ives lifeboat station committee agreed and it was decided that a new larger 37ft 6" / 12 oared self righting lifeboat was required for the station.

The new St.Ives lifeboat was built in 1899 by the Thames Ironworks Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited, Blackwall.

On the 19th December 1899 she had her harbour trial which proved satisfactory.

She was to be named the JAMES STEVENS No10 at the request of Mr James Stevens who had left the RNLI a legacy of £50,000 ( 6.5 million pounds in today's money ) This donation built 20 RNLI lifeboats and each boat was named after him.

NAME: JAMES STEVENS No10, ST.IVES LIFEBOAT

TYPE: SELF RIGHTING, PULLING (ROWING) & SAILING LIFEBOAT.

BUILDER: THAMES IRONWORKS SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED, BLACKWALL, LONDON.

YEAR BUILT: 1899.

DIMENSIONS: length 37'6", beam 9'3" CREW: 15 MEN.

CONSTRUCTION: DOUBLE DIAGONAL PLANK.

MATERIAL: MAHOGANY AND COPPER FASTENED.

SPECIFICATION: 12 OARS, 3 x SAILS, 2 x WATER BALLAST TANKS, 1 x DROP KEEL.

General arrangement of the deck layout of a self righting lifeboat like JAMES STEVENS No10

General arrangement of the carriage layout for a self righting lifeboat like JAMES STEVENS No10

Reproduced from the RNLI lifeboat journal.

With permission from the RNLI

The first journey of the lifeboat JAMES STEVENS No10 began on a steam train, she left London Paddington on 27th December 1899 and arrived at Hayle, Cornwall on 2nd January 1900. A large crane was used to lift the lifeboat off the railway carriage and lower her into the water.

On Wednesday 3rd of January the St.Ives lifeboat crew sailed her from Hayle to her new home in St.Ives, there was a stiff breeze blowing and the crew reported that she sailed beautifully. A large crowd had gathered at St.Ives harbour to witness the arrival of the new lifeboat and after being recovered onto her carriage the boat was pulled to the lifeboat station.