In February 2018 Steve Williams and the Lytham Lifeboat Museum team (in association with Lytham Heritage Group and the local RNLI Heritage team) take on the project to restore the Samuel Fletcher of Manchester Lifeboat, with the support of previous custodians Bruce Allen and Blackpool Council.
It is intended to restore the boat to full working order after the initial surveys. The aim is for the boat to once again be sailed and rowed on the sea off Blackpool. If more detailed surveys indicate that a full working restoration is not viable, the boat will be restored as a static display, similar to the 1900 Liverpool Class Chapman.
It is also intended to obtain a carriage and or trailer so that the Samuel Fletcher can be used as mobile display for local shows and put on display during the Illuminations and Heritage Weekends.
Ultimately the team would like to set up a small Lifeboat Museum in Blackpool to celebrate the RNLI’s long and eventful history in the town.
It will take from 2-5 years for the full restoration, watch this space for further updates and posts.
If you can help with funding or manpower to support the project we would be delighted to here from you.
The future vision for the Samuel Fletcher of Manchester ON393 36 ft Watson Class Pulling and Sailing Lifeboat…
This is how we want her to look… similar to the restored boat at Lytham…
We would like to house the Historic Lifeboat in a small Boathouse Museum ideally in Blackpool… similar to the restored Old Lifeboat House at Lytham…
