The Mabel Alice was No. 24 of the RNLI’s 52ft Arun Class and was the gift of Mr. David Robinson of Newmarket. Sir David Robinson (April 13, 1904 – January 10, 1987) was a British entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was also a very generous benefactor to the RNLI donating funds for 4 lifeboats the Mabel Alice being the first boat which was named after his wife. The technical specifications of the vessel are as follows :-
 

Hot air blown heating
Hot Running Water
Electronic Pyrogen Fire Fighting System
Fire Fighting Equipment

In the Main cabin
Coden GPS
Radio Beacon Receiver
Sailor VHF DSC X 2
VHF Direction Finder
Sperry Marine Navigation Satellite Compass
Coden Colour Sounder
Bridgemaster ( Decca) Radar
Depth Speed and Sea Temperature Logs
Colour Chart Plotter
Magnetic Compass
Epirb
1 Tron Sart
Flares and First Aid Kit

On the Flybridge
Forward Looking Sonar
Colour Chart Plotter /GPS
Magnetic Compass
VHF

Upper Steering Position

In the Forward Cabin
Galley complete with Full size fridge
Microwave
Oven/Hob
Table and Seating for 6
Hot Water Boiler
TV/DVD

In the rear Cabin
240V 14 KVA Fischer Panda Generator
Head

The Arun carries a salvage pump, in a watertight transfer container and Liferafts to hold 18 persons.
Technical details are as follows :-
Length 52 ft (15.9/ m)
Breadth 17 ft (5.2 m)
Displacement 32 tons
Load draught aft 5 ft (1.5 m)
Load draught forward 3 ft 9 in (1.1 m)
Engines 2 x Caterpillar 3408TA 460/485 Shp diesel
Max Speed 18.5 On board fuel capacity 650 gallons