The Appledore Lifeboat Station was established in 1825, and it is believed at one time there were three lifeboat stations including one which was known as Braunton. The RNLI took over the station in 1855 from the North Devon Human Society, its lifeboats having already saved 107 lives in the previous 24 years. One of the stations was closed in 1897 with the second at Braunton closing in 1919.

In 1922 the Appledore Station received its first Motor Lifeboat, names V.C.S whose cost of £8,162 was provided from three legacies. In total 18 lifeboats have served at Appledore, the current lifeboat being the Tamar Class All Weather Lifeboat Mollie Hunt which was funded by the generous legacy of Mrs Evelyn Mary Hunt together with other bequests and gifts. The station has also since 1972 had a series of Atlantic Class Inshore Lifeboats, the current Atlantic 85 class inshore lifeboat being Glanely which was funded by the generous gift of Mr Simon Gibson CBE DL who is the son and Trustee of the GC Gibson Charitable Trust that provided the funding for the Tyne class lifeboat ON1140 George Gibson in 1988.

Since the station was established there have been thirty gallantry medals awarded, twenty-three Silver and seven Bronze, the last being awarded in 2005.

The volunteer lifeboat crew provide a 24-hour search and rescue service 365 days a year along the North Devon Coastline, but none of this would be possible without the support of the public and their donations. It costs in the region of £250k a year to run and maintain the service in Appledore, all of which comes from the generous donations of the public.