Subscribe to download
RNLI 46ft 9in Watson Class Lifeboat

Description and History
The 46ft 9in Watson Class Lifeboat was a NON SELF-RIGHTING lifeboat built for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and based on a design by George Lennox Watson dating back to the 19th Century. Construction began on these boats in 1947 and they were the first newly designed boats of the post-war era. This mean't that alot of new ideas and technology were first tried on these boats. Namely, in 1948 the removal of wood as the primary building material for the super-structure, which was replaced by aluminum; also the layout of the compartments was changed from previous designs facilitating a large aft-compartment. That said, it still retained some of the older ideas of previous designs, namely the open cockpit and complex engine controls that required two mechanics to operate.

Stormworks Lifeboat:
This version of the 46ft 9in Watson is as it would have looked in 1948 onward until 1960.
This boat despite its small size can handle even the biggest waves, provided the Coxwain (that's you) knows what they are doing. As in real life these boats needed to be "worked" to get the best out of them, and the RNLI selected only the finest men for the job of Coxwain. Like all RNLI lifeboats before it, they were designed to be virtually unsinkable. The hull was filled with water tight blocks so that even if the boat was swamped, she would still float. Their center of gravity was also very low to arrest rolling as much as possible, and this Stormworks version is no different.

-Speed: 15 KTS Ahead / 5 Astern
-Range: 70% Throttle - 124 KM / at Full Throttle - 74 KM
-Survivor Capacity: 15

Starting the Engines:

1. Climb down into the Engine Compartment and turn on the 'Battery Trip/Reset' key switch; it is spring loaded and there to cut the power if the batteries are exposed to water, and prevent further damage to the electrical systems.
   
2. Turn on the breakers to their respective compartments and systems
   
3. Turn on the 'Battery Isolators' for their respective engines
   
4. Turn on the 'Sea Chest Pumps'
   
5. Ensure the 'Transmission Clutch Disconnects' are off. They are primarily used for disconnecting the propellers from the engines when the boat is out of the water, to avoid injury to people working near them.
   
6. If capable of doing so raise the mast. The 46ft 9in Watson Lifeboats pumped their exhaust up the mast. Therefore the engines could not be run when the mast was down. If you are in the boat house lower the exhaust hose down onto the deck and connect it to the fluid port located on the port side of the mast.
   
7. Move to the Wheel House and turn on the Fuel Pumps, then the Ignition

Launching:
There is really only two ways to do this when located inside the boat house. I have seen both methods used in RNLI archival films.

• Lower the boat down the slipway far enough that the masts are clear the boathouse, raise the masts, then start the engines.
  
• Release the boat from within the boathouse, have a man stationed near the mast to raise it as soon as the masts clear the boathouse.

In both cases the engines should be running and throttled up before hitting the water so as to propel yourself clear of the slipway as quickly as possible. The real practice was to release the boat so it would hit the water in the trough of a wave. However, because of the shallow nature of the in-game slipway and the rail system I would recommend releasing the boat so it hits the crest of the wave instead.

Lifeboat Recovery:
*Note: It was apparently common place to delivery any casualties to a nearby dock or beach where emergency personnel would be standing by. The lifeboat would then be beached, and when the sea had calmed enough it would return to the Lifeboat House.

1. Reverse the boat as closely as possible to the slipway
   
2. Attach the cable to the electrical connection just under the rudder
   
3. Then begin reeling the boat back up the slipway
   
4. It is recommended that you get the lifeboat onto the track as soon as possible while still in the water. As it can be difficult if not impossible to do once the boat is completely out of the water.

Notes to the Coxwain:

• The Diesel Heater does not work if the engines are off and you are outside in the open cockpit, dress appropriately.
  
• Don't raise the masts when inside the boathouse, you'll regret it.
  
• The ramp and cable release pin can be raised and released/"knocked out" remotely from the helm, by "calling" to the 'Head Launcher' (the man charged with the safe launching of the lifeboat).

The men who voluntarily put to sea in these small boats are hero's of the highest caliber. Their bravery in the face of great peril is and continues to be above reproach. I dedicate these boats to the brave men and women the world over that put to sea in the hopes of preserving life, and at times at the cost of their own.

"With courage, nothing is impossible." - RNLI motto

ENJOY!

UPDATE 21 NOV 2020:
- Upgraded to 1.0 standards this includes equipment and connectors
- First Aid kits are located in the walls near paint blocks resembling RNLI first air kits and labeled as such.
- Rope is located (hidden) in the deck near the Port and Starboard Rope Connectors
- Munition Case (Red case in the Fore Survivor Shelter) now have a Flare Gun and spare shells hidden near them.

UPDATE 01 JUL 2021:
- Increased speed to 15 kts
- Handling in bad weather greatly improved

UPDATE 13 AUG 2022:
- Added a Heading Hold that operates when away from the helm