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The Atlantic 85 is part of the B-class of lifeboats that serve the shores of the United Kingdom and Ireland as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet.
The Atlantic 85 is the third generation B-class
RNLI Fleet
''B''-class Atlantic 85
{{RNLI lifeboat classes
Rigid Inflatable Boat
A rigid inflatable boat (RIB), also rigid-hull inflatable boat or rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a rigid hull bottom joined to side-forming air tubes that are i ...
(RIB) developed from the and the later . The Atlantic design of the B-class of lifeboats is named after Atlantic College
Atlantic College (formally the United World College of the Atlantic; alternatively styled UWC Atlantic College, UWCAC, or UWCA) is an independent boarding school in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. Founded in 1962, it was the first of ...
, where the design was originally developed.
Design
The hull is constructed in a fibre reinforced composite, consisting of acarbon fibre
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
and foam core laminate with an epoxy glass and foam sandwich layup. The tubes are Hypalon
Hypalon is a chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) synthetic rubber (CSM) noted for its resistance to chemicals, temperature extremes, and ultraviolet light. It was a product of DuPont Performance Elastomers, a subsidiary of DuPont. Hypalon as it i ...
.
The boat is powered by twin Yamaha 4-stroke outboard engines that have been inversion-proofed to ensure the engines are still operational after a capsize.
Like previous RIBs, it has a manually operated self-righting mechanism that deploys an airbag mounted atop the A-frame. It is capable of being beached in an emergency without sustaining damage to engines or steering gear. The Atlantic 85 is fitted with radar and VHF direction finding
Direction finding (DF), or radio direction finding (RDF), isin accordance with International Telecommunication Union (ITU)defined as radio location that uses the reception of radio waves to determine the direction in which a radio stati ...
equipment and can be operated safely in daylight in a force 6/7 and at night in a force 5/6.
The Atlantic 85 also has intercom communications between the crew and VHF radio via their helmets, DGPS
Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPSs) supplement and enhance the positional data available from global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). A DGPS for GPS can increase accuracy by about a thousandfold, from approximately to .
DGPSs ...
& Chartplotter
A Chartplotter is a device used in marine navigation that integrates GPS data with an electronic navigational chart (ENC).
The chartplotter displays the ENC along with the position, heading and speed of the ship, and may display additional inf ...
. It also carries a searchlight, night-vision equipment and illuminating paraflares for night-time operations.
To ensure equipment is kept to a high standard of repair, boats go through annual or bi-annual overhauls, and 4-year refits.
Fleet
See also
*Talus MB-4H amphibious tractor
Talus MB-4H is a four-wheel-drive launch tractor which was specifically designed for the RNLI, to launch and recover inshore lifeboats from beach launched lifeboat stations. The tractor is produced by the British company of Clayton Engineering Li ...
* Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage
The Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage is a Drive On - Drive Off lifeboat launch and recovery carriage used by the RNLI to launch its Atlantic class inshore lifeboats.
Design
The design is by Clayton Engineering Limited, who worked with ...
References
External links
RNLI Fleet
''B''-class Atlantic 85
{{RNLI lifeboat classes