Mercurius B707

Current boat name

Mercurius B707

Boat class

6850

Function

Service

Type

Length (m / ft)

7.38 / 24ft 3in

Propulsion

Engine

Date of build

1993

Place of build

Havant

Present use

Museum/NMMC

The Atlantic 75 was developed by Admiral Hoare at Atlantic College at St Donat's Castle, S.Wales. Unlike earlier inshore inflatables she could operate at night with a self-righting capability and in conditions up to a force 7. She had a rigid floor with a deep V GRP hull made by Halmatic of Havant. Her sponsons were subsequently secured to the hull at Cowes and fitted out by RNLI staff. An inflatable airbag(activated by a gas bottle) is mounted flat on a rollbar at the stern and rights the boat in a few seconds. The twin 70hp outboards are inversion proofed to enable her to restart immediatelyt after a capsize and she is capable of speeds up to 32 knots. MERCURIUS B707 was a gift of the FG Warburg Group and staff, an investment banking firm. She was first in service at Criccieth, N Wales in June 1994 and later moved to Loch Ness. She is an early Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat, capable of speeds up to 32 knots. (See above her rescue achievements when in service). Although very successful, the Atlantic 75 was eventually superceded by the yet faster and more powerful Atlantic 85 in 2005. NMMC 21/08/2102