During our open morning on the 27th January  we were asked this question by a few people and thought you might find the answer interesting!

The numbers painted on the stern and bow of the hull are called a 'Draft Scale' they are a measurement of the draft of the lifeboat at each end.

Draft = The depth of the keel from the waterline, this is the minimum amount of water in which a boat will safely navigate.

The draft of the Tamar class lifeboat is approximately 1.3 Metres in its normal state. When more weight is added, by taking on survivors, for example, the lifeboat will sit lower in the water thus moving the water level higher up the scale.

In basic terms you could say that the numbers represent a laden weight gauge telling you how far under the water the keel is. The scale of these markings will change on vessels around the world, allowing for differences in ambient temperature and water density, as this will effect how the hull of similar vessels sit in the water.