During the time that the Ruby and Arthur Reed was on station at Cromer she performed 125 service launches, rescuing 58 lives.

The system worked by the lifeboat taking on one and half tons of sea water at launching in to a tank built into the base of the hull.

If the lifeboat then reached a crucial point of capsize the ballast water would transfer through valves to a righting tank built into the port side.

[4] Ruby and Arthur Reed’s aluminium wheelhouse was positioned amidships and was fully enclosed which provided welcome crew protection from the elements.

In addition a radio Direction Finding set was carried, which gave a magnetic bearing to a transmitting station.