Blue Peter I is an Atlantic 75 lifeboat, the successor to the RNLI's original Atlantic 21 class. A little larger - 38cm longer and 20cm broader than the Atlantic 21, the name is derived from her length of nearly 7.5m.

Her twin 70hp outboard motors give her a maximum speed of more than 30 knots, making her almost the fastest lifeboat in the RNLI fleet, just behind the recently introduced Atlantic 85. Quick response is a huge benefit, the Atlantic 75 is comprehensively equipped to deal with a range of casualty situations under varying conditions, and has a self-righting system to recover from capsize.

Atlantic 75 Specification:
Length: 7.5m (24ft 7in)
Overall beam: 8ft 8in (2.64m)
Length of hull: 20ft 3in (6.17m)
Weight with crew: Approx 3,200 lbs
Engines: Twin 70hp
Speed: 32 knots
Range: Three hours at max speed
Crew: 3
Construction: Fibre reinforced composite (FRC) hull with inflatable sponsons

The D class Lifeboat was the first RNLI inflatable lifeboat, introduced in 1963, and has become the workhorse of the RNLI for during the last 40 years.  The design of the D Class has continued to evolve since its introduction, and Spirit of Juniper is the latest generation of the D Class, known as the IB-1.

The IB-1 is equipped with a single 50hp outboard engine and is ideal for rescues close to the shore where larger lifeboats cannot operate. It can be righted manually by the crew after a capsize and unlike its predecessors, is not restricted to daylight operation. The boat has a crew of 2 or 3, is 16 feet long and has a speed of 25 knots.
The D Class lifeboat is launched from a trolley and can stay at sea for around three hours.

D Class Specification:
Length: 5m (16 ft)
Engine: 50 hp
Speed: 25 knots
Displacement: 338 kg (745 lbs)
Construction: Hypalon coated polyester
Range: Three hours at 20 knots
Crew: 2/3