The term Watson-class lifeboat refers to several wooden lifeboat classes operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1888 and 1991. The boats had hulls that conformed to the basic design laid down by RNLI naval architect George Lennox Watson.

Barry Dock Lifeboat Station was opened by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1901. In 1922 the station received its first motor lifeboat, and in 1973 it was provided with a second lifeboat, which was eventually withdrawn from service in 1979.