Tyne

Current boat name

Tyne

Boat class

7319

Function

Service

Type

Length (m / ft)

9.75 / 32ft

Beam (m / ft)

3.05 / 10ft

Propulsion

Oar/Sail

Designer

Greathead

Date of build

1833

Place of build

South Shields

Present use

Museum

Built by E Oliver & Son as the TYNE : a 32ft pulling lifeboat based on the Greathead type. Served at South Shields for 60 years and is reputed to have saved 1028 lives. Retired, TYNE was placed on public display under a cover in South Shields and was badly damaged by a bomb in 1941. Rebuilt BY NEMT and now on display. 'It was in 1941 I believe that a bomb landed across the road from where the Tyne had been located since Victorian times. A large piece of stone/concrete flew over the road and landed on the boat and its wrought iron housing canopy. Fortunately, only one side of the boat was destroyed and a pattern was made of the undamaged side that allowed a repair to be made. All appeared to be well, the boat looked OK, but as we inspected her in 2013 when asked to do so by the Council, it was found that rot was evident particularly in the area of the 1940's repairs. We took her to our workshop, stripped off the very many layers of paint until we had her down to the timber inside and out. The quality of the 1940's repair then became evident: rather poor in places it turned out. We replaced timber to match the original, and much more of course. In March this year we returned Tyne to her location not far from the beach at South Shields under a new canopy where she is a major attraction. NEMT GH Dec 2014 Further details and images of rebuild held and will be added to this entry shortly. Dec 2014 GH