[3] The lifeboat began its service at the station in 1987 and was replaced by a Shannon class boat in 2014.

On 29 August 1996, Spirit of Lowestoft was launched, along with the Aldeburgh Lifeboat Freddie Cooper (ON 1193) to assist the yacht Red House Lugger which had sent out a mayday signal during a storm.

[4] On arrival, the lifeboats found that the P&O cargo ferry MV Norking was sheltering the yacht.

[4][5] The lifeboats evacuated the yacht's crew, and the Lugger was towed to Harwich, with the rescue taking around 12 hours in total.

On 27 November 1996, coxswain of the Spirit of Lowestoft, John Cathpole received the RNLI bronze medal for his part in the rescue.