Be remembered on a legacy lifeboat

Leaving a gift to the RNLI in your Will helps protect volunteer lifeboat crews as they launch to the rescue. Your gift, whatever the size, will help save lives at sea. 6 in 10 lifeboat launches are only possible because of generous people like you leaving a gift to the RNLI in their Will.

As a thank you, once we have received your gift, your name will be added to the side of an RNLI lifeboat. Yours, along with the names of other generous supporters, will make up the letters and numbers that appear on the side of the lifeboat. So you’ll be part of our lifesaving family. When that lifeboat launches to the rescue, you will be right there alongside the brave volunteers as they save lives.

To find out more about legacy lifeboats, how you can write or update your Will for free, and how vital gifts in Wills are to saving lives at sea, request our free Gifts in Wills Guide.

Your generous gift

Helps save lives at sea

The RNLI is truly grateful for the legacies that help fund our 24/7 rescue service. Indeed, 6 out of 10 lifeboat launches are only possible thanks to gifts in Wills.

Makes you part of our lifesaving family

Our volunteer crews risk their own lives to answer the call for help. Your legacy could fund the vital kit or training to help our lifesavers do their job safely - a gift in your Will is their protection at sea.

Keeps you by the side of our volunteer crew

By funding the lifeboats, gear or training volunteer crew need, you’ll be standing by their side when they head out on rescues in merciless seas and gale force winds, day and night.

Our legacy lifeboats

As a thank you for leaving a gift in your Will to the RNLI, we will add your name to the side of a lifeboat once we have been notified of your gift.

The name displayed will be as listed in the Will of our supporter in a printed decal, which is the hardwearing sticker designed to make up the lettering and numbering displayed on the side of the lifeboat. Each decal will include between 5,000 and 10,000 names. This will be a single name, for example ‘John Smith’ or ‘Joan Smith’. Titles such as Captain, Dr, Lady and post-nominal letters (honours) such as RN, CBE, MD may be included.

If you are planning to leave a gift in your Will and prefer that your name isn’t included, please get in touch with our Gifts in Wills Team. We will endeavour to respect your wishes.

The RNLI will carefully select each legacy lifeboat. RNLI lifeboats are expected to have an operational lifetime of 25 years and the letters and numbers with your name on them are expected to remain on the lifeboat for a minimum of 10 years. However, due to wear and tear, it may be less.

Sharing your memory

When the RNLI is notified that we have received your gift, we will give the option to those administering your Will to receive updates about your name being displayed on the legacy lifeboat.

This allows your loved ones to be connected to and take pride in your gift. Your generosity will be remembered as you become an eternal crew member, helping to save lives at sea.

Important information 

We are expressing our thanks by adding the names to our lifeboats and reserve the right not to include names, without returning any legacy, for any reason we think is reasonable including if a Will is incomplete, lost, damaged or revoked.

We won’t be liable for any loss suffered by anyone relating to their, or any other name appearing or not appearing on a lifeboat, or if a wrong name is included. 

Neither you nor your executor will have any rights in the decal or any lifeboat as a result of your name being added to a decal which is fitted to the hull of a lifeboat. 

In the event of a dispute the decision of the RNLI shall be final. 

For information about how the RNLI manages personal data, view our privacy policy.