Launch Sequence

The Launch & Recovery Sequence

Here at Scarborough our Lifeboat is housed in a Lifeboat House.

The photographs below were all taken by John M Turner who is a

Life Governor of the Lifeboats

How to launch a Mersey Class Lifeboat

When a lifeboat is needed the Coastguard contacts the Lifeboat Stations Lifeboat Operations Manager or a Deputy Launch Authority and requests the Lifeboat Launches. The pagers are then activated to alert the Crew and Launch Team. To save time where a quick response is needed the Coastguard will activate the Pagers.

Click on any of the images to see an enlargement

	The first job at launch is to attach the tractor to the carriage at the rear of the lifeboat. Two ropes called the Falls are attached to rollers on the back of the tractor
	As the lifeboat leaves the boathouse crew members erect the Radar mast and the Radio Aerials. A launcher is at the front (Bow) and rear (Stern) of the boat to knock out the securing chains.
	After the securing chains have been removed the Coxswain starts both engines and checks all is in order on the Lifeboat. He then signals to the launcher that he is ready to launch.
	The launcher checks all is clear on the ground and then signals the tractor driver to push the Lifeboat into the water.
	Here you can see the tractor pushing the Lifeboat into the water. The tractor driver uses his experience for the distance he needs to push the Lifeboat before it can come off the carriage
	When there is sufficient water the tractor driver separates the tractor from the carriage the Coxswain signals to the crew to knock out the quarter chains and then signals the tractor driver who pulls away and the fall ropes then pull the lifeboat off the carriage.
	After leaving the carriage the Coxswain opens the throttles and the lifeboat is underway. The tractor then returns to the beach pulling the carriage.
	Once back on the beach the ropes and chains on the carriage are set up ready for when the lifeboat returns and is recovered back on to its carriage
	From the pagers being set off to the Lifeboat being in the water and underway takes about 10 minutes

How to Recover and re-house a Mersey class Lifeboat

	The Coxswain brings the lifeboat slowly to the shore. As soon as it touches the beach the tractor driver with a launcher standing outside enters the water. When the tractor is near enough a rope, attached to the winch wire is thrown. This is attached to the Bow Strop on the lifeboat and the tractor then starts to pull the lifeboat out of the water.
	Rubber planks called "Skeets" are laid on the beach and the lifeboat is pulled over them out of the water. These Skeets protect the lifeboats hull from damage. The lifeboat is pulled well up the beach. The tractor then collects the carriage and takes it to the stern of the lifeboat.
	The Tractor pushes the carriage close to the stern of the Lifeboat. The winch wire is then passed over the carriage. The carriage is then tilted and pushed under the keel. the winch wire is then attached to a chain put through the ruffle hole in the keel..
	The tractor then starts to pull the lifeboat back on to its carriage. Part way through the pull is stopped and as you can see in this photo Mick and Perce are under the stern of the lifeboat fixing the stern chain and safety wire. As the lifeboat is pulled back the quarter chains are passed to crew members on the lifeboat and secured.
	The lifeboat is now back on its carriage and the launchers go under again to secure the safety pins and to re set the fall ropes.
	At the other end the bow strop has been passed up and secured. Here you can see the bow chain being re set and secured. The launchers will check that the quarter chains are tight and the bow chain is also tight. We then wait for the tractor to return to the beach. It has gone back to the boathouse to take back the trailer which carries the skeets and chains
	When the tractor returns it then takes the Lifeboat back to the boathouse. Here it is coming upthe slipway.
	It is a very tight squeeze to get the lifeboat back in and Mick is ensuring that it goes in right first time so it is an easy launch "next time".
	Now starts the big job. The lifeboat is hosed down and pressure washed to remove all traces of salt as salt causes corrosion and structural damage. Afterwards it is then leathered and all the bright metal including the propellers are polished! As it would cost approximately £1,500,000.00 to replace this lifeboat it is our job to ensure that she is thoroughly cleaned after each launch.

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