CSMA 75th Anniversary - B745

CSMA 75th Anniversary - B745 seen here on the stocks outside of her hom Royal National Lifeboat Institution Station at Newbiggin, Northumberland (North East England). Photographed on 15th April 2007.

The current class of lifeboat used at Newbiggin is the Atlantic 75. Developed at the RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat Center,Cowes I.O.W. in 1992. Her name is "CSMA 75th Anniversary".
She is slightly longer and broader than the previous "21" (the "Kirklees"), and her name is derived from her length of nearly 7.5 meters.

Even though her twin twin 70hp outboard engines make her the fastest lifeboat in the fleet, her hull design provides a softer ride for the crew and the survivors. The three crew sit on a delta-shaped console in the centre of the lifeboat, the helmsman steering with one hand whilst adjusting the throttle with the other.

The lifeboat is fully fitted out by RNLI staff. A roll bar assembly above the engines on the stern of the boat provides the mounting for a self righting bag, stowed flat. In the event of a capsize, a crew member activates a gas bottle to inflate the bag. The lifeboat turns upright in a few seconds.

As part of the Atlantic "B" class of lifeboat, she is a rigid inflatable which can operate in both daylight and darkness.
The engines are inversion-proofed and can restart after a capsize.

Length : 7.5 meters  
Beam : 2.64 meters  
Crew: 2 or 3
Displacement: Approx. 3.200lb.
Endurance:  3 hours at Max Speed
Construct: Grp Hull with Hypalon-coated tube
Speed: 32 Knots  
Engine: Twin 70hp outboard

By the way - CSMA stands for the Civil Service Motoring Association which collected the voluntary payments to pay for the vessel.

See the RNLBI Newbiggin web site @
http://www.newbiggin...at/lifeboat.htm