A location for a boathouse was found on Lytham Road, just off the promenade, and was built by Forshaw Bros. of Preston, at a cost of £193 14s 7d, offset by a donation of £100 from Sir Benjamin Heywood, Bt.

[2] The cost of the boat and carriage, £298 in total, was gifted by Miss Atherton, of Kersal Cell, Salford, and a 33 ft. x 8 ft. 10-oared pulling and sailing lifeboat was constructed by Forrestt, of Limehouse, London.

The boat was transported to Blackpool free of charge by the London and North Western Railway and arrived on 12 July 1864.All the extra kit required was provided by a gift of £250 from the widow and daughter of the late Mr. R. W. Hopkins of Preston, with the boat being named Robert William on 14 July 1864, at a ceremony attended by 20000 people.

She was fortunate to arrive at all, as a fire had consumed Groves and Guttridge's boat builders yard, and three other new lifeboats, only 15 hours after she was launched.

[2] Blackpool received the first of its D-class inshore lifeboats in May 1965, with the first services in June of the same year soon proving it to be a valuable new asset.