Atlantic 85-class lifeboat
The Atlantic 85 is a third-generation B-class rigid inflatable boat inshore lifeboat. It is operated around the shores of the British Isles and the Channel Islands by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. It was developed from the and the later. It entered service in 2005, and gradually replaced the Atlantic 75.
The Atlantic design of the B-class of lifeboats is named after Atlantic College, where the design was developed.
Design
The hull is made of a fibre-reinforced composite, consisting of a carbon fibre and foam core laminate with an epoxy glass and foam sandwich layup. The tubes are Hypalon.The boat is powered by twin Yamaha 4-stroke outboard engines that have been inversion-proofed to ensure the engines are still operational after a capsize.
Like previous RIBs, it has a manually operated self-righting mechanism that deploys an airbag mounted atop the A-frame. It can be beached in an emergency without damage to engines or steering gear. The Atlantic 85 is fitted with radar and VHF direction finding equipment and can be operated safely in daylight in a force 6/7 wind and at night in a force 5/6.
The Atlantic 85 has intercom communications between the crew and VHF radio via their helmets. The lifeboat is also equipped with the RNLI's SIMS which provides the crew with combined chartplotter and AIS, radar and VHF directional finding capability. It carries searchlights, handheld night-vision equipment and illuminating paraflares for night-time operations, as well as casualty care equipment.
To ensure equipment is kept to a high standard of repair, boats go through annual or bi-annual overhauls, and 4-year refits.
All of the following fleet details are referenced to the 2026 Lifeboat Enthusiast Society Handbook, with information retrieved directly from RNLI records.