▁sea ▁and ▁around ▁the ▁coast s ▁of ▁Britain ▁and ▁Ireland ▁( UK , ▁Republic ▁of ▁Ireland , ▁Channel ▁Islands ▁and ▁the ▁Is le ▁of ▁Man ), ▁mainly ▁but ▁not ▁exclus ively ▁in ▁the ▁service ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁National ▁L if eb o at ▁Institution ▁( R N LI ). ▁More ▁than ▁ 6 0 0 ▁names ▁are ▁ins cribed ▁on ▁the ▁R N LI ▁Memorial ▁at ▁R N LI ▁H Q , ▁Po ole . ▁Some ▁losses ▁pre date ▁the ▁R N LI ▁( f ounded ▁in ▁ 1 8 2 4 ). ▁▁ 1 9 th ▁century ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁century , ▁lif eb o ats ▁were ▁almost ▁exclus ively ▁o ar ▁and ▁sail ▁power ed . ▁Self - right ing ▁boats ▁had ▁been ▁developed ▁but ▁were ▁not ▁yet ▁widely ▁adopted . ▁▁ 2 0 th ▁century ▁During ▁the ▁ 2 0 th ▁century ▁many ▁adv ances ▁were ▁made ▁in ▁safety ▁and ▁dur ability ▁of ▁lif eb o ats , ▁including ▁self - right ing ▁and ▁motor ▁power . ▁Life ▁jack ets ▁were ▁continu ously ▁being ▁improved . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁Royal ▁National ▁L if eb o at ▁Institution ▁List ▁of ▁R N LI ▁stations ▁Independent ▁lif eb o ats ▁in ▁Britain ▁and ▁Ireland ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : Ro yal ▁National ▁L if eb o at ▁Institution ▁* ▁Category : Dis aster s ▁in ▁England ▁Category : Dis aster s ▁in ▁Scotland ▁Category : Dis aster s ▁in ▁Wales ▁Category : Dis aster s ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Category