The new boathouse appeal
The RNLI needs your help to raise the funds to
enable a new lifeboat station and slipway to be built at Exmouth to
accommodate the inshore and all-weather lifeboats in one building.
Please support our campaign to ensure the Exmouth crew have the best
facilities and equipment to enhance their proud tradition and capability
for saving lives at sea.
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Why is a new boathouse needed?
The former Trent all weather lifeboat (ALB), from its
mooring near Exmouth Dock, could not cross the sand bar at the
mouth of the River Exe at low water spring tides. This meant its
capacity to save lives in the Exe estuary was impaired for a three-hour
period around low water on an average of 8 days per month. In
anticipation of the new boathouse build, the Trent was replaced by a
Mersey class ALB in 2008, but until the boathouse is ready it too will
have to stay on a mooring. The ALB
crew accommodation and office are in a pair of cramped portacabins next
to the Harbour.
The D class inshore lifeboat (ILB) is housed in the old,
1903 boathouse on Queen's Drive, 3/4 mile away from the ALB base. The split site
makes
operational coordination, training, teamwork and communication much more
time consuming than it need be. It is especially difficult during
the busy summer season, wasting valuable rescue time - it only takes
between 20 and 30 minutes to die of hypothermia, or 5 minutes to drown
if you are not wearing a lifejacket.
To address all the above and many other related
shortcomings, it is proposed to build a new boathouse to house both the
ILB and a new, carriage-launched ALB.
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Trent
Class on its mooring, near low water |
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Where will the new boathouse be built?
The new boathouse is under construction on Exmouth sea front in a
location that overcomes the shortcomings of both of the present locations - Maer Rocks, which is half a mile east of the current inshore
boathouse on Queens Drive. Photos of the boathouse under construction
can be seen in the Gallery section.
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What will the new boathouse look like?
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The architect's sketch opposite gives an
impression of the new boathouse. Simon Pryce, RNLI Divisional
Inspector, explains the new building would bring Exmouth RNLI into the
21st century and said at the press briefing on 28 Jun 06: "The
building we are proposing would bring environmental benefits too. It is
intended that the design will incorporate alternative energy generators
and grey water storage to promote sustainability and reduce running
costs." See the Gallery section of this
website for pictures of the boathouse under construction. |
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How will the station operate with new
boathouse?
The new boathouse will house both the D class ILB and a new,
carriage-launched FCB 2 class all weather boat. Prior to the FCB 2
entering service, the new boathouse will accommodate a Mersey class
all-weather boat, which will replace the Trent as an interim measure.
The Mersey boat and carriage rig have been successfully trialled on the beach
near to the proposed boathouse location.
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Mersey Class beach trial |
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Appeal Update
Our Lifeboat Station Appeal Marches on to Success
Our appeal for funds to build our new Exmouth lifeboat station
has been an enormous success. At the time of writing our restricted fund to
pay for the new station stands at £1.94m. This has allowed us to pay
for the cost of the build, which Dawnus our contractor started in May 2008.
However we still need to
raise funds to pay for the internal room fittings and therefore continue to
need your help to achieve this.
Our new station will make a very significant difference to the
response that the crew will be able to make to incidents and overcome most of
the difficulties that they face at the moment such as inadequate space for
training, lack of changing facilities and toilets and tidal
restrictions.
The new build has all been made possible through the
enthusiasm and dedication of our volunteers in Exmouth, Topsham, Exeter,
Honiton and Sidmouth and by the very generous donations made by members of the
public, businesses, charitable trusts, clubs, event organizers and other
organizations. Through our appeal for funds, they have all answered our call
for help. The result will be a new RNLI facility for saving lives at sea in
the Exmouth area and on the River Exe and for providing sea safety advice
through education, which will serve the community for years to come.
We are very grateful for all your support so far, thank you.
Please continue to help us fund the internal fitting of our new lifeboat
station.
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How can I help?
You can make a donation to the Exmouth Lifeboat Boathouse
Appeal in a number of ways:
RNLI
Exmouth Lifeboat Boathouse Appeal
RNLI
Exmouth
C/O
The Store
The
Docks
EXMOUTH
Devon
EX8 1EB
If you could include a Gift Aid certificate with your
donation, we will be able to increase your donation by one
third. Click here to download a Gift Aid
declaration form.
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