Redcar Lifeboat Museum

[JumbleDuck]

I'm not quite sure where this belongs, but since we have both RNLI and SNSM lifeboat threads running here ...

I had a couple of hours free in Redcar today. during a work trip, and took the chance to visit the lifeboat museum. I heartily recommend it. There are lots of ship models, lots about Redcar and, in pride of place, the "Zetland", which is the only surviving Henry Greathead lifeboat, built in 1802 and in beautiful condition.

I was interested to learn that in operation she would be taken on her carriage to the beach opposite the ship in trouble, then row straight out. After the rescue, the cox and steersmen would change ends, the rowers would face the other way and she would come back without every turning side on to the waves. She is completely symmetrical, so does not have "port " and "starboard" sides - instead she has "blue" and "white" oars, plus red ones for steering.

Well worth a visit if you're anywhere near. Run by volunteers and entry is free, so chuck a few quid in the collecting box.

http://www.zetlandlifeboat.co.uk/

 

[penberth3]

...I had a couple of hours free in Redcar today. during a work trip, and took the chance to visit the lifeboat museum. I heartily recommend it....

...She is completely symmetrical, so does not have "port " and "starboard" sides - instead she has "blue" and "white" oars, plus red ones for steering.

RNLI boats still follow this convention with blue and white boathooks.

Did the Redcar station and boat suffer bomb damage in one of the World Wars? ISTR a photo.

 

[JumbleDuck]

RNLI boats still follow this convention with blue and white boathooks.

Coo, thanks.

Did the Redcar station and boat suffer bomb damage in one of the World Wars? ISTR a photo.

I didn't see anything about that, but the Zetland boathouse had been superseded by then, so it may have been the later one which was hit. There is an RNLI ILB station on the sea front, in a modern building.

 

[penberth3]

Coo, thanks.



I didn't see anything about that, but the Zetland boathouse had been superseded by then, so it may have been the later one which was hit. There is an RNLI ILB station on the sea front, in a modern building.

The bomb was at South Shields, so I wasn't far out! Link mentions the Zetland:
http://forum.southshields-sanddancers.co.uk/boards/viewtopic.php?t=17484

Struggling to copy images, but a quick google of RNLI boats shows White boathook on port side, Blue on Starboard.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The bomb was at South Shields, so I wasn't far out! Link mentions the Zetland:
http://forum.southshields-sanddancers.co.uk/boards/viewtopic.php?t=17484

Struggling to copy images, but a quick google of RNLI boats shows White boathook on port side, Blue on Starboard.

Thanks. They certainly like their lifeboats there. As well as the Zetland and the Tyne there is also an 1886 rowing one, the Bedford under restoration and a 1918 motor lifeboat, the Henry Frederick Swan, in sea-worthy condition.

https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2047/henry-frederick-swan

https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2019/04/15/the-bedford-lifeboat-moves-in-to-restoration-yard

It all shows how very proud coastal communities are of their lifeboats.