In those days the choice of boats was limited and it was decided to purchase an Avon S650 Inflatable Sports Boat powered by a 40 HP outboard motor. Volunteers built the launch trailer and an old Nuffield two-wheel drive agricultural tractor, which was purchased locally, towed it.  The total Package including waterproofs, compass, anchor and safety equipment cost around £1600, all of which was raised within the local community.  This equipment was stored in a shed at a local caravan site whilst negotiations for a suitable permanent site for a boathouse were ongoing with the local council.  

Keeping the old tractor in reasonable order was a major task that took up a lot of the volunteers' time.  A combination of age and the salt laden environment had inevitably taken its toll.  

Later that year Granada T.V. were making a programme in the village which involved some scenes being filmed at sea, and for that they needed a lifeboat on scene, which we were willing to provide.  The money we were paid for this service not only paid off the overdraft, but also enabled the organisation to invest some money and plan for the future.

Over the next few years we had some particularly hard rescues sustaining damage to the boat on two occasions, and on one the lifeboat capsized (all three crew members managed to get ashore safe and well).  This prompted the need for Self Righting gear which we had designed by manufacturers of the boat, and the maintenance volunteers built and fitted the frame.

Again it was realised that we were asking too much of the Gordon Boat and it was decided that for operational reasons and crew safety, that a larger, rigid hulled inflatable craft with more power and speed should be sought.  

Now that we had larger equipment the boathouse had become too small and so, once again with a predominantly volunteer workforce, we extended the boathouse lengthways and upwards, putting a crew room, galley, and look out/operations center upstairs, and, at last, a toilet and washbasin down stairs.

Although improving the capabilities of the organisation the larger boat had 3 drawbacks:

i)    Stern launching had always been hazardous.  When launching into heavy surf the boat takes on a lot of water (once turned into the sea and underway the boat self drains within a minute). However, with a larger boat, more water is taken on board and so the launch vehicle has to go much deeper into the water to allow the boat to float off the trailer.

ii)    When operating in shallow water the larger, heavier engine sustains more damage to the propeller when it hits the seabed.

iii)    The outboard engines needed to replaced every 3 seasons (this had always been the case).  However, with the cost of the larger engine being around £8000 this was obviously a greater strain on the organisation's finances.  In addition, fuel costs (Petrol and 2-stroke oil) were a greater burden.  

The end of the year saw the retirement of our long serving treasurer and the all the members would like to express our thanks for her commitment and work throughout her period in office.