A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1828.

The first lifeboat was a 26-foot six-oar Palmer type, which arrived aboard the sloop Dove on 25 October 1828.

In October 1853, a new 27-foot Peake 8-oared, self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, costing £135, was built by Forrestt of Limehouse, and was delivered to Caernarfon free of charge by the London and North Western and the Chester and Holyhead Railway companies.

[3] In order to accommodate the boat, a new boathouse was constructed 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) south east of the town, where the lifeboat could launch directly into the Afon Mawddach.

A naming ceremony was planned for later in the year, to coincide with a Royal Visit to Barmouth, and on a cold wet 25 November 1982, Diana, Princess of Wales, named the boat Princess of Wales (ON 1063).

A new Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat arrived in March 2019, and was named 13-30 Ella Larsen (ON 1337) later that year.