The 12m boat has been serving the Esperance shores for the past 10 years and it was time for a refit.

The 12 ½ tonne boat was loaded by a crane onto a truck at Bandy Creek and taken to Perth on Thursday, watched by Sea Rescue members and curious onlookers.

State Emergency Services (SES) president Russell Palmer said the boat will be out of action for about two or three months and it will cost about $150,000 to $200,000 to fix depending on final survey inspection.

The cost will be shared between Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA), Volunteer Marine Rescue and Esperance Sea Rescue.

“Fundraising is now under way to raise Esperance’s share,” Mr Palmer said. “Two new motors with extra power, slight modification inside, general maintenance, repairs and a paint job will make it a safer boat.

“At times we have two or three callouts a week and then we may go for months without a callout.

“When not being called out our crews do navigation, night navigation and radar training along with familiarisation of the area that covers from east of Israelite Bay to Munglinup.”

Mr Palmer said that one of their members has offered the use of his own boat.

Local recreational fisherman Ted Sanderson will lend his 7.2m Esperance Belle which is six years old and is fitted with rescue necessities.

“We also will be keeping in contact with commercial fishermen and operators to maintain coverage throughout the area until Volunteer II returns better than ever,” Mr Palmer said.