Working boat conversions

The basic shape of a traditional lifeboat is a long shallow keel, double ended and beamyideal for conversion into a cruising boat

- Clive Marsh

Modern ships' lifeboats are much more likely to save your life by keeping you dry and warm than their open boat predecessors, should you be unlucky enough to need one. They may resemble orange submarines but they have a fit-forpurpose design.

However, there was a time when a ship's lifeboat actually looked like a boat and they were often used for conversions into sailing or motor yachts once their mother ships were scrapped.

The London Nautical School was founded as a consequence of the inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic. As we know, there were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers when the great ship hit an iceberg, so the fundamentals of London Nautical School training included navigation and lifeboat launching. The school's yard had a traditional lifeboat on davits and boats afloat in the docks and river ready for rowing at 0800 on a Monday morning all year round. Navigation, communications and ship construction classes were daily events.

The idea was to supply competent ships’ of cers. The honours board in the school’s hall names many master mariners including a First Sea Lord.

The school’s boats were double-ended heavy sea boats of wooden, clinker construction. Often 28ft in length, they were hardy vessels and their type had undertaken many long passages from Captain Bligh’s adventure to Sir Ernest Shackleton’s great voyage.