THE 1st Watchet Sea Scouts’ new safety boat, Elliot Stevens, was named and blessed outside the refurbished boat museum on Sunday.

Royal Navy chaplain the Rev Mark Noakes performed the ceremony which took place following the 50th annual Seafarers Service in Watchet Methodist Church.

Elliot died aged 13 months of mitochondrial disease and cardiomyopathy and his parents, Paul and Donna Stevens, set up the charity Elliot’s Touch.

Both Paul and Elliot’s uncle were sea scouts in Watchet, and his grandfather, Martin, is a local boat owner and supporter of the scout group. 

The new safety boat, call sign Echo Sierra, provides cover for the Watchet Sea Scouts – a Royal Navy recognised group – while they are sailing or undertaking other boating activities both within and outside the harbour.

The four-metre rigid inflatable with outboard engine was purchased after several years of fundraising to replace an older boat.