The RNLI needs your help to raise the final £1 million 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.

• Why is a new boathouse needed?

• Where will the new boathouse be built?

• What will the new boathouse look like?

• How will the station operate with the new boathouse?

• How can I help?

Why is a new boathouse needed?

The Trent all weather lifeboat (ALB),  from its present mooring near Exmouth Dock, cannot cross the sand bar at the mouth of the River Exe at low water spring tides. This means its capacity to save lives in the Exe estuary is impaired for a three-hour period around low water on an average of 8 days per month.  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 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.

Trent Class on its mooring, near low water

Where will the new boathouse be built?

The new boathouse will be built on Exmouth sea front in a location that overcomes the shortcomings of both of the present locations.  A number of options are being considered; the preferred location is Maer Rocks, which is half a  mile east of the current inshore boathouse on Queens Drive. Positive discussions are going on with East Devon District Council as a preliminary move towards land acquisition and planning submission.

What will the new boathouse look like?

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. Obviously the detailed plans are under wraps until they've been through the planning process"

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.  

Mersey Class beach trial 

How can I help?

The estimated cost of the new boathouse project is in the region of £1.6 million.  We have already raised £600,000, so the target of this appeal is to raise £1 million.  We are running a full programme of high quality fund raising events, from sponsored dances to a variety concert in the Exmouth pavillion.  You can help us, and have a good  time by supporting these events.  But history tells us that the biggest slice by far of the appeal target will come from donations.

You can make a donation to the Exmouth Lifeboat Boathouse Appeal in a number of ways:

• By post:  send your cheque, made out to "RNLI Exmouth Lifeboat Boathouse Appeal" to:

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.  

• By telephone:  To make a donation by phone or for other ways to help, call 0800 543 210 and quote 'Exmouth appeal'.

• On line:  to make a  secure online donation using your credit/debit card click here