New Rescue Boat Appeal Reaches it’s target! Thanks to everyone who made this possible

Now the target has been reached The new RIB has been ordered and we look forward to trialing it on the lake when it arrives in 2023. In the mean time the John Scott will continue with it’s life saving duty.

The John Scott Rigid Inflatable Boat (or RIB), known as Patrick Scottie, fulfills two essential functions: it is our means of rapid transport to emergencies on the eastern (Howtown) side of Ullswater, and our primary rescue vehicle for incidents on the lake and in floods.

Many of our rescues are on the far shore of Ullswater from our Rescue Centre in Patterdale. On this eastern shore, road vehicles either cannot reach the incident site at all or, especially at busy times, cannot reach casualties quickly enough. We are also seeing a significant number of call-outs related to water sports with the growing popularity of wild swimming, paddle-boarding and canoeing. 

Using a boat is the most effective way of transporting Team members, equipment and casualties, and can be, quite literally, life-saving. Scottie has also proved invaluable in the local area and also county-wide in periods of severe flooding. It has allowed the Team to help local people who needed rescuing and supported the delivery of essential medicines and provisions. 

Our current rescue boat is named after the former Chairman of Patterdale MRT and founder of our Supporters’ Club, John Scott. Scottie has been in service for 14 years and the time has arrived when we must increase the specification to align with the Government’s ‘Rescue Boat Code’. We are taking advice from HM Coastguard and a locally based marine consultant. Inevitably, higher standards of safety, for team members and those we rescue, come at a cost above our original budget.

If we exceed our target before closing the Appeal, all donations will be directed to associated costs such as maintenance and equipment. Thank you.

Your generosity in supporting our Appeal will be much appreciated and, if you have ideas for fundraising or suggestions for sources of support, please let us know. Thank you.