The RNLI established a lifeboat station at Hope Cove in 1878 provided by The Freemasons of England.[2] The land for the boat house was donated by the Earl of Devon. Replacement boats were supplied in 1887, 1900 and 1903 and all four lifeboats were named Alexandra.
The station was closed in April 1930 by which time the neighbouring station at Salcombe had been equipped with a motor lifeboat which could cover Bigbury Bay.[3]
A rescue boat was based in Inner Hope in 1992. It was crewed by volunteers under the management of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as part of the Cliff Rescue Team (CRT). The decision was made in 2010 that the MCA would no longer maintain any rescue boats in the UK.
The Under Secretary for Transport recognised the ongoing need for this sea rescue facility in Bigbury Bay and gave the village the opportunity to run an independent lifeboat. A public meeting was held in the village and unanimous support given to form a limited company and registered charity to achieve this. The Hope Cove Life Boat became the 63rd Independent lifeboat service in the UK and has since worked with the MCA and the RNLI to continue to meet their goal of protecting and preserving life in Bigbury Bay.[4] It is a company limited by guarantee, number 07456004,[5] and registered charity number 1140126.[6]
The 6.5 m (21 ft) Rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RIB) Alexandra built by Ribcraft of Yeovil. It has been in service since 2013 and had a major refit in 2022.[7]
