Y-class lifeboat

The Y-class lifeboat is a class of small inflatable rescue boat, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Y-class is mainly used as a small tender carried on board the larger RNLI All-weather lifeboats. They were originally carried aboard the Arun-class lifeboats, but are now normally found on the Severn-class and Tamar-class lifeboats. They are also used as part of the RNLI's flood rescue team.

The lifeboat is powered by a single 15-hp outboard engine. It usually carries a crew of two and is primarily used for incidents where the casualty is near or on the shore, and where the larger All-weather lifeboat cannot get close in due to rocks or water depth.

Other small boats operated by the RNLI include the Arancia-class beach rescue boats, the X-class and the XP-class lifeboats.

All of the following fleet details are referenced to the 2004–2026 Lifeboat Enthusiast Society Handbooks, with information retrieved directly from RNLI records.