Aldeburgh Lifeboat

“Abdy Beauclerk”, a 41ft Watson Beach, Aldeburgh type, lifeboat was the first of a class of five, built especially for launching over open beaches. The boats were similar to 41ft Watson boats but had strengthened hulls, extra beam and a wider keel. It was fitted with two Weyburn petrol engines and a top speed of 7.5 knots; it is interesting to note that roughly this speed remained the top speed of Aldeburgh boats until 1993 some 61 years later. Although twin engine lifeboats no longer carried sails, the Aldeburgh crew requested that this lifeboat be fitted with a mizzen mast and sail as they preferred to have this arrangement.