Exmouth RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched on Friday evening, to help a vessel that had 'lost power' just off Orcombe Point.
A crew of three launched at around 7pm and sped to the reported location. The volunteers quickly located the boat, which had two persons onboard and had suffered a suspected gearbox failure.
A spokesman for the RNLI said: "We accessed the situation and our Helm made the decision that the safest course of action would be to take the vessel under tow and return it to its mooring on the River Exe."
The lifeboat and casualty vessel arrived at the mooring at approximately 19.40 and the lifeboat crew then ensured that the two crew members were able to safely return to shore.
The spokesman added: "The crew of the disabled vessel did exactly the right thing in quickly calling for help and their prompt action enabled the safest possible conclusion to this unexpected mechanical failure."
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