RNLB Ruby and Arthur Reed II

Ruby and Arthur Reed II
History
OwnerRoyal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
BuilderFairey Marine, Cowes, Isle of Wight
Official NumberON 1097
StationCromer
Cost£2.5 million
Launched1985
Sponsored by£1.23m Bequest of Derek Clifton Lethern of Southfields, London
ChristenedMonday 8 September by the Duke of Kent.
General characteristics
TypeTyne class
Tonnage31.5 tonnes
Length52 ft 5 in (15.98 m) overall
Beam18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Draught1.35m
Installed powerTwin turbo Diesel engine of 1,015 bhp (757 kW) each
Propulsion2 X fixed pitch 5 blade propellers
Speed25 knots (46 km/h)
Range10 hours at 25 knots (46 km/h)
Capacity4,600 litres/1,000 gallons
Crew7 crew including a doctor

RNLB Ruby and Arthur Reed II (ON 1097) was a Tyne-class lifeboat stationed at Cromer in the English county of Norfolk from 16 December 1985 and was the No 1 lifeboat between various relief's until she was replaced after 21 years service by the Tamar-class RNLB Lester (ON 1287) in December 2007. Between 1996 and 1999, during the rebuilding of the pier head lifeboat house and slipway, she was temporarily replaced by a carriage launched Mersey-class lifeboat, RNLB Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189). During the time that the Ruby and Arthur Reed was on station at Cromer she performed 120 service launches, rescuing 102 lives including 3 dogs. Nearly 50% of her launches took place during the hours of darkness and 17 of them saw her facing gale force 7 winds. Her service launches included helping 48 merchant and fishing vessels and 47 pleasure craft.