[1][2] A double drowning incident at the end of Ryde Pier in 1956 prompted the reformation of a rescue organisation to serve the town.

[1] The service operates two Inshore lifeboats from its station at Appley Lane, Ryde Rescue 1, an 8m Ribcraft with twin 200hp Yamaha engines, and a smaller 4.8m Ribcraft named Ryde Rescue 2, with a single 60hp Evinrude Etec engine.

On 8 May 1869 the town's rescue volunteers service was supplied with a new lifeboat called the Captain Hans Busk (ON 376).

[4] A 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m) whaleboat type lifeboat was built by J. Samuel White at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.

Training was undertaken at Warner’s Holiday Camp at Puckpool, in an unheated open pool.