It was an act of "wonderful generosity" by a fellow seafarer that secured the return of the St Abbs lifeboat.
A donation by teacake and caramel wafer maker Tunnock's means it is now expected that the new lifeboat will be launched next year.
The Berwickshire community that started raising funds for an independent lifeboat after the closure of the station there in September were astonished when owner Boyd Tunnock - a sailing enthusiast - decided to make up the shortfall of the first £250,000 target, giving about £170,000.
The boat is to be named after his grandfather Thomas Tunnock who founded the Uddingston business.
He had initially planned to give £10,000 but after speaking to the St Abbs campaigners came up with the idea of naming the vessel.
He said: "I had always wanted to name a boat after my grandfather and my late brother."
Mr Tunnock, whose family has been making teacakes, wafers, snowballs and more for over 100 years, said he has only twice had to call out a lifeboat in many years of sailing, both times ending without injury.
On the last occasion four years ago he raised the alarm for another yacht in difficulty in a force seven gale.
He said: "My daughter has never been in the boat with me since."
Alistair Crowe, Lifeboat Appeal Chairman, said: "This is a highly significant development and the emergence of Tunnock's as a major donor has unanimous support from the community of St Abbs.
"On behalf of the St Abbs community I would like to express my sincere gratitude not only to Tunnock's, but also to all our other donations both big and small. "
He added: "We look forward to becoming an operational Lifeboat Station at St Abbs again as soon as arrangements can be put in place, which will include a new purpose built boat.
"There are details still to be agreed with Tunnock's, which will include the name of the new lifeboat, and a further announcement will be made in due course."
The 82-year-old inventor of the teacake - which had boost in popularity across the UK after appearing in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 ceremony opening - also supports yachting events around Scotland including the West Highland Yachting Week where he has taken his 38ft yacht Lemarac (caramel backwards).
The community decided to set up its own service after the Royal National Lifeboat Institution moved its lifeboat to Eyemouth, two miles further south.
The St Abbs volunteers are known to have saved more than 200 peopel and rescued countless others in 104 years in operation.
Campaigner Euan Gibson said it was "quite a moment when he told me - wonderful generosity".
He said: "We currently estimate that approximately £250,000 should be allocated to the boat and related crew and medical equipment, and that a further £250,000 should be raised initially towards liquid funds.
"We always said Spring/Easter for launch, if the funds allowed.
"Now we need to find out from manufacturers if they have build-slots and how long building a boat to the Rescue Boat Code specification takes before we can start firm planning.
"We could only make tentative enquires before,but now we can have a more serious conversation."
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