The first Scarborough Life-boat

This is copied from an article from "European magazine" in 1803

To this technical account of the construction of the boat, we shall add some miscellaneous observations made by Mr Hinderwell, of Scarborough, on the subject of the life-boat at that port.

This boat is under the direction of a committee. Twenty four fishermen, composing two crews*, are alternatively employed to navigate her. A reward, in cases of shipwreck, is paid by the committee to each man actually engaged in the assistance; and it is expected that the vessel receiving assistance should contribute to defray this expence. None have hitherto refused.

It is of importance, that the command of the boat should be entrusted to some steady, experienced person, who is acquainted with the direction of tides or currents, as much skill may be required in rising them to the most advantage, in going to a ship in distress. It should also be recommended, to keep the head of the boat to the sea, as much as circumstances will admit; and to give her an accelerated velocity to meet the wave. Much caution is necessary in approaching a wreck, on account of the strong reflux of the waves, which is sometimes attended with great danger. In a general way, it is safest to go to the lee quarter; but this depends upon the position of the vessel; and the master of the boat should exercise his skill in placing her in the most convenient situation. The boatmen should practise themselves in the use of the boat, that they should be better acquainted with her movements; and they should at all times be strictly obedient to the directions of the person who is appointed to the command.

The great ingenuity which has been displayed in the construction of the Life-boat, leaves scarcely any room for improvement; but some have supposed, that a boat of twenty five feet in length, with a proportionate breadth, would answer every purpose of a larger one. A boat of these dimensions would certainly be lighter, and less expensive; but whether she would be equally safe and steady in a high sea, I cannot take upon myself to determine.

In a letter to Mr Greathead from Mr Hinderwell, we find the following passages:-

"The Life-boat at Scarborough, which was built without the least deviation from the model and the plan which you sent here at my request, has even exceeded the most sanguine expectations; and I have now received experimental conviction of its great utility in cases of shipwreck, and its perfect safety in the most agitated sea. Local prejudices will ever exist against novel inventions, however excellent may be the principles of their construction; and there were some, at this place, who disputed the performance of the Life-boat, until a circumstance lately happened, which brought it to the est of experience, and removed every shadow of objection, even from the most prejudiced minds.

"On Monday, the 2nd of November, we were visited with a most tremendous storm from the eastward, and I scarcely ever remember seeing a more mountainous sea. The Aurora, of Newcastle, in approaching the harbour, was driven ashore to the southward; and as she was in the most imminent danger, the Life-boat was immediately launched to her assistance. The place where the ship lay was exposed to the whole force of the sea, and she was surrounded with broken water, which dashed over the decks with considerable violence. In such a perilous situation the Life-boat adventured, and proceeded through the breach of the sea, rising on the summit of the waves, without shipping any water, except a little from the spray. On going upon the lee-quarter of the vessel, they were endangered by the main boom, which had broken loose, and was driving about with great force. This compelled them to go alongside, and they instantly took out four of the crew; but the sea which broke over the decks having nearly filled the boat with water, they were induced to put off for a moment, when, seeing three boys, (the remainder of the crew) clinging to the rigging, and in danger of perishing, they immediately returned, and took them into the boat, and brought the whole to land in safety. By means of the Life-boat, built from your plan, and the exertions of the boatmen, seven men and boys were thus saved to their country and their friends, and preserved from the inevitable destruction which otherwise awaited them. The boat was not in the least affected by the water which broke into her when alongside the vessel; and, indeed, the add, that it was the general opinion that no other boat of the common construction could easily have performed this service; and the fishermen, though very adventurous, declared they would not have made the attempt in their own boats.

* Two crews are appointed, that there may be a sufficient number ready in case of any absence.

OTHER ARTICLES
• The early years of the Scarborough Lifeboat
• The national RNLI and the Scarborough lifeboat of 1861.
• The 200 year history of scarboroughs RNLI
• Hinderwells account of the first launch of the Scarborough Lifeboat in 1802
• Seabathing in scarborough - an article by John Rushton
• Scarboroughs Lifeboat - the huge storms of October 28th 1880
• Thomas Crimlisk - First of the Crimlisks
• Harwood Brierleys description of Scarborough harbour at the opening of the 20th century
• Strange customs amongst the Scarborough shipbuilders
• Funny stories from the age of sailing ships in Scarborough
• Tommy Rowley - stories about loss of life at sea
• A sea shanty about a storm on the Scarborough coast
• The tragedy of the 1836 Scarborough Lifeboat
• The German bombardment of scarborough in the First World War in 1914
• The Borough of Scarborough formed in the 12th Century
• Thomas Hinderwell - history of Scarboroughs fisheries
• The port of Scarborough in the late 15th Century
• Coastal erosion in the 19th Century around the North Bay and Scarborough Castle area
• The loss of the Scarborough trawler Heritage in 1993

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