Sir William Priestley and Replicas
Sir William Priestley
Built in 1934, Sir William Priestley was the Morecambe Fishermen’s lifeboat. Up till 1966 the Fishermen’s Association provided the town’s lifeboat rather than the RNLI. Sir William Priestley was a Bradford mill owner and MP. She is in the collection of Lancaster Maritime Museum awaiting restoration
Boat statistics
- Built
- 1934
- Length Over All
- 27 ft (8.23 m)
- Waterline
- 23.5 ft (7.16 m)
- Beam
- 9.5 ft (2.90 m)
- Draft
- 3.5 ft (1.07 m)
- Construction
- Carvel - Wood
- Rig
- Gaff
Introduction
Sir William Priestley was launched in 1934 amongst much civic acclaim. She was withdrawn in 1987 after 53 years service. During her career she performed many rescues such as rescuing people cut off by the tide, broken-down speedboats and capsized dinghies. In 1960 for example she took part in 7 rescues ranging rescuing 8 people from a sandbank, which was about to be flooded by the oncoming tide to towing a fishing boat back which had lost power due to a net caught in her propeller.
In 1979 two moulds were taken from her hull by Eric Bergqvist from which at least 10 boats have been made. She was designed to be self-righting.
History by Year
-
1934
Launch
Sir William was paraded through the streets of Morecambe watched by 20,000 people and attended by 3 mayors
-
1979
Moulds taken from hull
Two moulds are taken from the hull by Eric Bergqvist. At least ten boats have made built from the moulds
-
1987
Withdrawn from Service
Enters collection of Lancaster Maritime Museum
-
1989
Launch of Freda Class
Classic Yachts of Southampton launched the Freda Class based on the design of Sir William. Only one yacht Freda is built