Two Lifeboats

Well, one relief lifeboat, and one former lifeboat. Closest is RNLB BETH SELL, a 'Severn' class lifeboat with operational number 17-33. One of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's relief boats, she was built in 2001 by the Berthon Boat Company at Lymington. 17 metres in length, this Fibre Reinforced Composite boat is fitted with twin Caterpillar engines, with a combined output of 2,400 bhp. Capable of running at up to 25 knots, she has recently been surveyed and refitted at Silvers Marine yard at Rosneath on the Gareloch. The other vessel is the Strathclyde Police boat STRATHCLYDE, which as a member of the RNLI's 'Arun' class, was stationed at Penlee from 1983 until 2003 with the name MABEL ALICE. She was then acquired by Strathclyde Marine Policing Unit, and adapted to meet their own specifications, and is now based at the Great Harbour. STRATHCLYDE is a GRP hulled vessel of 52 feet in length, and is fitted with two 500 bhp Caterpillar engines, giving her a service speed of 18 knots.