Why do Lifeboats get launched down a slipway.?
Well for a start, not all lifeboats get launched down a slipway but many do yes. These days the RNLI has a range of vessels from small RIBs capable of being towed to where they are needed, to the larger offshore vessels and even hovercraft. Some of the reasons to keep a lifeboat in a shed at the top of a ramp include: 1. Quicker for crew to board and launch than get out to a moored lifeboat by tender. 2. Lifeboat safe in a shed is easier to maintain. 3. Vessel is generally better protected from adverse weather inside a shed. A vessel moored alongside a quay is subject to potential damage from waves and even other vessels. 4. Keeping a lifeboat out of the water ensures the hull is clean and free of any growth for maximum performance at sea. No need to apply antifouling paint to a vessel stored out of the water. Even some racing yachts now do this for the cleanest and fastest hull. Please do remember that in the UK, the RNLI is funded wholly by voluntary donations and all the crews are v
