Ex RNLI Manchester and Salford Lifeboat

13/06/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old ex RNLI Manchester & Salford sailing Watson class lifeboat jobs this week:

1. Choosing the location for the 6 man liferaft which wasn’t easy, in the end it’s going on the wheelhouse top, this involved drilling the 18 mm holes and epoxying them as areas to re drill in thickened epoxy rather thank bolting in the plywood deck which always cause rot later so sealing the plywood holes is vital and it ensures the sheathing is also protected on the edges. Just need to re drill when set an then we can fit the life raft frame next week.

2. Wiring the plug for the portal fridge which needed a plug to feed the 12 volt DC and fitting fuses etc.

3. Fitting the new ( second) alternator which will give us high output 12 volts charging at 140 amps. Which means we have two alternators 12 and 24 volt each up to 140 amp. We plasma cut all the parts on a CNC and welded up the parts all custom made by us. It fits perfectly and is now ready for wiring up which is next weeks job.

4. Getting the wheelhouse heating thermostat wires routed.
5. Wiring the 12 volt dc plug in the cockpit for a compass light etc.
6. Fitting two lanyard points in the cockpit to keep crew on/ in the boat in rough weather for safety.

Huge thanks to John W, Pete, Chris and Apple……thank you it would not be possible without you!

11/06/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old Manchester & Salford lifeboats jobs today:
1. Fitting the newly made hardwood trims around the generator panel.
2. Fitting two new stainless cleats on the Mizzen mast ready to get the sails up.
3. Fitting the new brackets for the 12 volt high output alternator ready for final welding tomorrow.
Huge thanks to Both Johns for all the hard work John Graham and John Welsby.

10/06/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old ex Douglas lifeboat “ Manchester & Salford” it’s time for safety jobs:
1. Fitted AIS
2. Fitted VHF & MF.
3 Fitted EPIRB.
4. Now fitting a 6 man ISO liferaft, making brackets and plan to complete the fit in the next couple of days.
5. Also upgrading the 24 volt alternator and fitting a new 12 volt high output alternator.

6. Lots or wiring going on as well lots of thanks to Pete, John and Chris.

28/05/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old Watson class sailing lifeboat “ Manchester & Salford” jobs for today:
1. Varnishing all the hardwood trunking that hides the wires in the wheelhouse and saloon that goes to the main mast.
2. Fitting the trunking in the saloon.
3. Fitting the trunking in the wheelhouse.
4. Fitting the saloon ceilings to hide more wiring.
5. Fitting the manual bilge pump in the stern end box.
6. Refitting floors in the stern end box.

Huge thanks to John Graham. It looks amazing.

23/05/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old “ Manchester & Salford “ Watson class sailing lifeboat jobs for this sunny Saturday:

1. Sanding and undercoating the bullwarks.
2. Sanding and undercoating the fenders where chipped.
3. Completing the LED lights throughout the boat which means we need toggling red/ white LED lights throughout the boat in every room which are now fully operational.
4. Fitting the Raymarine memory card / USB socket to allow us to stream video from the cameras straight to the computer or memory card and capability to have multiple Navionics chart memory cards purged in at the same time.
5. Varnish the port side superstructure which is now 4 coats and looking great.
6. Connect the TV amplifier to make the reception even better which was already very sharp.

Huge thanks to Pete and Chris………amazing as always and a lovely day

22/05/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old Watson class sailing lifeboat jobs Thursday and Friday this week.
1. Starting the process of fitting the main and Mizzen mast clamps for the booms which means we had to drill with forester bits to enable us to fit a stainless steel cylinder being each clamp to prevent the boom clamps from rotating round the mast by moving the clamps.
2. Sanding and degreasing the port side of wheelhouse and coach roof sides ready for more varnishing.
3. As above for the stern endbox.
4. Two coat of Epithanes two pack varnish on above.
5. Making templates for the high output alternator mounting bracket. Which means I needed to remove one of the engine feet’s.
6. Wiring the main power cable for navigation electronics mounted in the saloon electrical cupboard.
7. Doing some Oxford blue and ivory paint touch ups on the port side if deck and kicking toes.

Big thanks to John Graham

20/05/2026

16/05/2026

On 689 the 102 year old ex Watson class sailing lifeboat “ Manchester & Salford “ jobs today:

1. Re fitting the bow sprit, newly varnished and planed to fit correctly rigged ( almost) and she looks brilliant with her Collars spars.
2. More wiring in the saloon connecting all of the LED lights throughout the boat.
3. Starting the process of fitting the Raymarine Autopilot, more still to do but getting very close.
4. Wiring up the diesel fuel pump for the Eberspacher Hydronic 12 kw heating and water heater.
5. Finishing the wiring of the backbone to the stern end box to service the Autopilot data with the rest of the instruments.

Huge thanks to Pete, Chris and John a great day and lots of progress……thanks you doesn’t cover it!

15/05/2026

ON 689 the 102 year old Watson class sailing lifeboat ex Douglas the “ Manchester & Salford” jobs Thursday and Friday this week:

1. Routing cables ( wiring) for the central heating which include wires for the heating controller, wires for the heater matrix’s and also wires for the Yacht sense which will allow the heating to be turned on/ off when we are not athe boat.
2. Wiring up the entire central heating harness, control box, frisked for the Eberspacher 12kw Hydronic.
3. Installing a 24 volt LED strip light for the stern end box which now has both mains and DC lights.

Huge thanks to John Graham.