RNLI Launches £900,000 Appeal For Port Isaac Lifeboat Station Upgrade

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has launched a fundraising appeal to raise around £900,000 for a modernised lifeboat station in Port Isaac.

Volunteers at RNLI Port Isaac Lifeboat Station currently operate from a small single storey building in the village. The RNLI says the facility does not meet the standards expected of a modern lifeboat station.

The charity also owns a building in the village known as Smugglers Rest, where an RNLI shop is currently based.

What The Plans Include

The project will see the existing lifeboat station reconfigured to provide enough space for the D class inshore lifeboat and tractor to be stored together. This will allow for a faster and more efficient launch.

Plans also include private changing facilities for crew members, improved storage for operational kit and a visitor experience area.

At Smugglers Rest, the temporary shop will be refitted as a permanent ground floor shop to help raise funds supporting the station’s lifesaving work. A separate access will be installed for volunteers to reach the first floor, where there will be a crew meeting and training space, an office and welfare facilities for all Port Isaac RNLI volunteers.

A Station With A Long History

Port Isaac RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Kevin Dingle said:

“Port Isaac has an iconic history of lifeboating over the last century with many of our local community connected to our lifeboat heritage. We are a small close-knit community who look out for each other, and we respond to various incidents assisting boat owners, fishing vessels and water users on this important stretch of north Cornwall coastline.

“We have been in our current lifeboat station since 1994, but it is incredibly small for our 46 strong team of volunteers. The improved station will allow us to launch quicker as the lifeboat and tractor will remain coupled. We will also have space for our crews to change before and after a service in private, as well as much needed space for meetings, training and welfare.

“These improvements will make a significant impact for our volunteers at Port Isaac RNLI and we hope the wider community will come together to support our fundraising efforts to future proof our presence in the village for decades to come.”

When Work Will Start

Planning permission for the works was approved in 2024. Construction is expected to begin in autumn 2026 and will take between six and eight months to complete. The work has been scheduled during the quieter winter months.

During the renovation period, the D class lifeboat will be stored at a facility at the top of the village and will remain fully operational.

A number of fundraising events are set to take place throughout the year to help raise the total renovation cost, which is estimated at around £900,000.

Anyone wishing to support the appeal can donate via the RNLI’s JustGiving page:
👉 Port Isaac Lifeboat Station Appeal

📷Group shot of Port Isaac volunteer crew. Shot for Port Isaac local appeal 2026. Left to right: Kevin Dingle, Jon Wide, Guy Sibley, Nicola Bradbury, Richard Hambly, James Uglow, Kerensa Hudspith, Tom Brown, Trevor Beare, Adam Pearson. - Credit: RNLI/Nathan Williams