A full-size Tamar class lifeboat has commonly been quoted as costing around £2.7 million when the class was being built. Treat that as an approximate, historical figure: costs rise over time, and published numbers may not include everything a station needs to operate the boat.
If you’re asking because you want to build one, a Tamar model costs far less. Even so, a working 1:16 model with full running gear and electronics can easily cost several times the kit price on its own.
The full-size Tamar: what the figure covers
The headline figure is mainly the cost of building the boat. Running a lifeboat over its service life adds a great deal more:
- Crew training and kit
- Maintenance, overhauls and refits
- Fuel
- Shore facilities such as boathouses, slipways and moorings
The RNLI is a charity, so the cost of its lifeboats is largely met from public donations and legacies rather than direct government funding. That’s one reason the RNLI publishes headline costs for its boats in its fundraising material.
Why lifeboats cost so much
A modern all-weather lifeboat is a specialised vessel built to keep working in conditions most boats avoid. It’s designed to self-right after a capsize, to survive repeated slipway launches or groundings, and to carry casualties as well as crew. The Tamar was designed with twin high-output diesel engines, an integrated electronic system for monitoring and controlling the boat, and shock-mitigating seats for the crew. Small production runs (only a few dozen Tamars were built) also push up the cost of each boat.
How much does a Tamar model cost?
Prices change and vary by retailer, so the breakdown below describes the main cost areas rather than exact figures.
The kit
The 1:16 Tamar kits on the market, from makers such as Mountfleet Models and Model Slipway, are large kits for experienced builders and are priced accordingly. Check current prices with retailers. See Tamar class lifeboat model kits for what’s in each kit.
Running gear and electronics
Usually sold separately:
- Two motors, shafts, couplings and propellers
- Speed controllers, ideally with mixing for twin-motor steering (see choosing a brushed or brushless ESC)
- A radio transmitter and receiver
- Batteries and a suitable charger
Choosing brushless motors, a high-end radio or large LiPo packs pushes this total up quickly. Our comparison of LiPo, NiMH and lead-acid batteries covers the trade-offs.
Paint, glue and materials
Primers, top coats, masking tape, adhesives, fillers, ballast lead, sealing resin and sandpaper all add up over a long build, especially if you’re starting without a stock of materials.
Optional extras
- LED navigation, search and blue lights
- A sound unit
- A bow thruster
- A detailed, removable Y-boat
- Crew figures
- A display stand and a transport cradle
These are where costs can climb furthest, but they can all be added later.
Ways to manage the cost of a model
- Buy in stages. Some lifeboat kits are sold as separate sets (hull, details, fittings, running gear), so you can spread the cost over the build.
- Reuse electronics. A good radio and charger can serve several models.
- Get the boat sailing first. Add sound and lighting once it’s running reliably.
- Consider a smaller scale or class. A shorter boat, or an inshore lifeboat, needs less material and smaller running gear.
For a wider view of options, see our guide to radio controlled lifeboat models. For model sizes, see how long a Tamar class lifeboat is.