Cowes Inshore Lifeboat serving Cowes and the Central Solent area, has successfully carried out extensive sea-trials of its new 8.8m Barbarian class RIB powered by twin 225 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors
Cowes Inshore Lifeboat serving Cowes and the Central Solent area, has successfully carried out extensive sea-trials of its new 8.8m Barbarian class RIB powered by twin 225 hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors.
The new craft, named Spirit of Cowes was purchased with financial help by way of a sizeable grant from The Peter Harrison Foundation and was fitted out by Kevin Mole Outboards of Cowes, who completed the project and undertook running-in of the outboard motors, including initial sea trials, following the collapse and closure of the orginal hull manufacturer.
The boat, equipped with state of the art navigational aids and other specialist equipment for its 4 person crew, is now under the control of H.M. Coastguard at Lee-On-Solent.
Cowes Inshore Lifeboat is an Independent Lifeboat Organisation, founded in 1989, to fill the role of protecting the Central Solent, west to Newtown and east to Fishbourne. The rescue unit attends in the region of 45 -50 emergency callouts assisting 130 -150 people in distress each year and relies mainly on the general public for its funding. Their two previous rescue craft were also powered by Yamaha outboards, the last boat, 7.4m in length, was recently sold to the KNRM of the Netherlands where it continues in active service.
