Do you mean your model lifeboats are made of metal? In full size, clinker built means constructed of wood. Lifeboats of this type were commonly painted white externally and frequently painted various shades of brown internally. They would not usually have been varnished as this would have required too much maintenance. Typical internal colours would have been dark brown or buff.

Colin

Michael

I think there could be some confusion here between the full size and model lifeboats.

The lifeboats shown in the photo certainly show a clinker construction and therefore the assumption is that the originals that these are modelled on would have been wooden.

However reading the comments is it possible that the model lifeboats shown in the photo are actually made from pressed metal and made to look like wood.

Edited By Paul T on 01/06/2021 14:48:59

There wasn't any confusion here Paul, I assumed from the fact that we have seen this model before that they were metal representations of wooden boats!

My comments above remain that after SOLAS regulations required it all lifeboats were painted flourescent orange on their upper surfaces. What we need to determine is when the SOLAS regulations changed to this as i suspect it may well have been in the 50s. Certainly when I first went to sea all lifeboats were fibreglass construction and painted orange inside but that was mid 70s. However I was on some old ships that were certainly around in the 60s.

We need to know when the SOLAS regs changed.

Hi All,

I like white boats with green tarpaulin covers, they look the part and quite jolly

Regards Ray

It looks like a post war ship, possibly 1950's, so white outside with a selection of browns inside would look to be legit, or legit enough. Not having a true back story, it is ripe to gain one, which could include a lot of trading or ferrying in distant backwaters of the far east.