Really almost there!

Tuesday 20 Sep 2022

The last major tasks on the new boathouse have been completed, including paving the apron area to the south of the building and installing steps and a ramp to access the door for the visitor centre and shop, Damaged areas of the beach bank path have been made good and the level adjusted to match the new building and the path resurfaced in shingle. Gates have also been added to the path down the east side of the building.

Inside, the historic service boards, some over 100 years old, have been moved from the walls of the current boathouse and installed above the crew boarding platform where there will be visible from the public viewing platform opposite. Similarly, fittings, furniture and signage have been delivered to and installed in the public areas including the shop, stairs and viewing platform.

All this has taken a little longer than predicted with the final snagging and handover of the building now going on in late September rather than last month.

Operationally, the new boathouse is starting to come to life with our new SLRS launching rig using the new ALB ramp as a temporary home while the crew is training with it. The relief Shannon lifeboat 13-40 which is being kept moored in the outer harbour has also been recovered to the SLRS and taken into the new boathouse to test the fit and as part of driver training.

Most importantly of all, the building should be ready to house our new Shannon-class lifeboat 13-46 'Duke of Edinburgh' when she arrives in Wells in the near future.