RNLI lifeboat launch

amazing handling ...

Hi,

As an RNLI Life Govervor I can only respect the bravery of the Volunteers that man these craft.

Anyone who doubts this should understand that the RNLI does everything that the USCG is asked to do for free.

Wow and boy howdy.

This gives credence to Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's

Often quoted statement that

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

How in the hell that boat got off the beach with intact props

Is beyond me, let alone in reverse, and navigating backward.

Totally counterintuitive, but it worked.

Just shaking my head, and grinning a big grin.


jsi

I was thinking they either have to be in deep pockets or it's jet drive.

Found your answer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mersey_class_lifeboat

Hi,

This is probably why the props didn't get turned into rose buds

http://www.anstrutherlifeboat.org.uk/images/M end elevations.htm

They are pretty well protected

Couldn't find the clip I wanted of the USCG 47's

Playing in the Columbia Bar rip.

But this one, from way South @ Morro Bay,

Is just about as good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sVhxnHzl9g&feature=related

Go Coasties!


jsi

Back in the '60s the island I grew up on had a lifeboat that was launched down a slip from its boat house. I'm pretty sure it was a 45 or 46 foot Watson class from the 1940's. We could hear the maroons go off from anywhere on the island, and when we heard two go off we'd all run down to the shoreline to watch her go down the slip. Alas / fortunately depending on the point of view, the call outs were too infrequent to justify such a grand set up, and in 1968 the duties were passed onto a much smaller boat on the mainland further up the coast. Our lifeboat moved on to (Devon ?) and the boat house was demolished.
I never got to ride it down the slip, although the coxwains lad did. Lucky sod, I never liked him.
Way out from the island harbour, you can see the Farne Islands and if you squint you can see the lighthouse that Grace Darling and her father rowed out from to save lives and forge a legend.

Can you tell me why did they back into the surf? Thought they would have faced it bow on...

I'd be curious too. Intially I thought they couldn't turn because of the shallow water and the surf beating them ashore but it seemed like he was still backing when he had plenty of room to turn.

No matter how hard you can spin the helm I doubt she would have responded quick enough and without losing too much way. My feeling is that the Cox just had her hard astern and hung on, I don't think anyone would have done it better. At times it looked bloody frightening for all involved, on board and on the beach.

Looks to me the stern was aground and the waves were just pushing the bow in to shore...they would have been sat there sideways on, on the bottom for ever if the crew hadn't all moved fwd to sink the bow / raise the stern and the cox then pulling out astern. He wouldn't have done it that way if he could have got through the first couple of waves dead ahead. A tricky issue that became an opportunity. Well handled.

Still safer than turning side on - the waves are still big at the end of the video, and as he got out the waves would turn into swell. Backing out was a safe option because the boat is seaworthy and can takes waves at the transom, not like a leisure boat that would sink when the first wave smashes through the transom door, patio doors and then into the bow main bedroom

TBH I would have done the same thing when it became obvious she wasn't going out forwards, keeps the props in deeper water and gets her out in one piece, just a bit wetter that's all!

I can see that and he obviously knows his boat far better than I do. He also had the rest of his crew on the bow to think about if he turned. In his position I might have done the same. As a pleasure boat owner/operator my instinct would be to get the bow into the sea as soon as possible. He, knowing the capabilities of his boat, decided the safest course was continue backing off the beach.

Here is their latest model life boat that is water jet powered and about 50% faster than previous models BBC News - RNLI waterjet-powered lifeboat is launched in Dorset

The all weather hurricane capable self righting life boat can reach 25kn and turns on a dime!

There were some stupid comments on YouTube for this.
The coxswain would have known the bow would turn after entering the water because of the size and frequency of the waves, hence he leaves the throttles alone, waiting to be spun with the waves lifting the stern.
With each lift of the stern throttles up hard, pulling further offshore stern first.
Not enough distance between waves to spin 180 without being struck side on, dumping the crew in the drink.
My cap goes off to all the RNLI & Coastguard crews.