Full hull model of the 'Mariners Friend' (1877), a pulling and sailing lifeboat mounted on its launching carriage. Built at a scale of 1:16 the model is fully equipped and rigged, with the sails set. Included are a lifeboat house, fourteen figures with cork lifejackets and a launching carriage drawn by a team of horses. Within the lifeboat is a complete set of equipment including warping lines and anchors, a drogue (canvas sea anchor), water and ration boxes, lifebuoy, compass, oars and boathook, and a throwing line.

‘Mariners Friend’ and ‘Royal National Lifeboat Institution supported by voluntary contribution’ are on the bows. ‘H J Pope, builder’ is inscribed on a plaque on the forward face of the stern buoyancy tank. ‘Model lifeboat built by H J Pope, coastguard, Hastings, Sussex in the year 1877’ is inscribed over the main doors of the lifeboat house. The ‘Mariners Friend’ was stationed at Hastings. for xx years and saved xx lives (check).