As the most westerly lifeboat station on the British mainland the Mallaig lifeboat is regularly called out to assist vessels in trouble in the South Minch and along the south and east coasts of Skye. It can also be called on to transport the doctor, police or fire service to the islands or to inaccessible parts of the mainland in emergency. The most unusual use of the lifeboat probably occurred during the General Election of April 1992, when a helicopter carrying ballot boxes from the Small Isles crash-landed in Knoydart and the boxes were transported to Mallaig by lifeboat. All the lifeboatmen are volunteers and since the founding of the lifeboat station a proud tradition of service has grown up, with sons following fathers in the lifeboat service, coming from all backgrounds. The lifeboat crew includes all trades among those ready to leave their homes or work at a moment's notice.

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