As a result of the decision to have fast lifeboats at all all-weather stations they had a shorter than usual career and none of the 14 built reached 20 years service.

The 1982 built RNLB James Cable (ON 1068) was the last displacement hull boat in RNLI service when withdrawn from Aldeburgh in December 1993.

The Rother-class was a development of the 37 ft (11 m) Oakley boat, like its predecessor primarily intended for carriage launching, although 6 of the 14 went to slipway stations.

A major change was the abandonment of the Oakley's complicated water ballast self-righting system.

The Rother achieved its self-righting ability from its extended watertight superstructure and all had an enclosed wheelhouse with the radar mounted on the roof.