Marine Fabrication That Works: Awnings, Targa Tops, Rails & More Built for Real Water

Salt, sun and vibration punish boat gear. Off-the-shelf parts rarely match your hull or how you use it, which is why custom fabrication lasts longer and feels better on the water. Below is how Master Metals Fabrication approaches key marine upgrades — built to handle real loads, shed corrosion risk and make every trip easier.

Boat Awnings: Shade Without the Rattle

A good awning gives shade, clears rod tips and stays quiet in a breeze. We size the frame to your span, brace the high-load corners and choose canvas or hard top to suit your fishing or family days.

What matters:

• Rigid frames with radiused corners that resist cracking
• Drain paths so water does not pool after rain
• Quick-release fittings for storage or bridges
• Isolation washers to separate stainless from alloy mounts

Result: cool cockpit, tidy line paths and hardware that does not buzz at 20 knots.

Targa Tops: Storage, Shade & Clean Rigging

A targa top is more than shade. It is a platform for rocket launchers, antennas, lights and outriggers. We keep weight low, brace into strong parts of the hull and route cables inside the frame.

Benefits you feel:

• Extra rod storage off the deck
• Firm handholds for crew moving forward
• Hidden wiring that stays dry & serviceable

Choose powder coat, polish or bead-blast to match the boat and the way you clean it.

Boat Rails: Flybridge, Bow & Duck Board

Rails are safety gear, not decoration. Loads spike when a wave throws weight onto a handhold, so geometry and fixings matter more than shine.

Our rail approach:

• Backing plates that spread load on thin skins
• Smooth bends & welded joints dressed to remove stress raisers
• Rail spacing that suits gloved hands & kids’ reach

Flybridge rails protect the step up. Bow rails guide anchor work. Duck board rails add safe re-boarding in a sloppy sea.

Fuel Tanks: Capacity, Balance & Peace of Mind

Tanks are structural parts. They need the right alloy, baffles, expansion allowances and mounts that do not chafe. Every tank is pressure tested and logged before install.

Designed for service:

• 5083 marine grade plate with coded welds
• Baffles sized for slosh control without starving pickups
• Correct venting & sender locations for accurate gauges
• Isolation from dissimilar metals & soft mounts where required

You get extra range without trim surprises or mystery fuel smells.

Solar Panel Brackets: Power That Survives Weather

Solar helps fridges and electronics stay online, but flimsy brackets hum, crack and leak. We build low-drag mounts with sealed fasteners and cable routes that keep water out.

Key details:

• Stiff sections tuned to your panel span
• Isolation pads between stainless & alloy or cored decks
• Glands and drip loops so water cannot track below
• Service access for cleaning & replacement

Quiet panels, firm charge rates and no drips into lockers.

Tender Davit Brackets: Lift Safely, Store Cleanly

Davits take point loads every time you hoist. We calculate working load limits with a safety margin, then brace into bulkheads or transom structure that can carry it.

Expect:

• Rated sheaves & pins with easy inspection
• Tie-back points that stop swing while underway
• Clear line runs that avoid chafe on gelcoat
• Drain and isolation so fittings do not become corrosion cells

Launch and recover without wrestling or scraping paint.

Bait Boards: A Workbench That Washes Down Fast

A bait board should be a stable bench with drains, not a wobbly shelf. We set the height to your stance, add non-slip top plates and integrate washdown, knife slots and drawer options.

Better by design:

• Mounts that accept trolling loads from leaning crew
• Smooth internal corners that clean fast
• Optional drawer pods for rigs and tools
• Removable or fold-down options for tight transoms

Prep bait, rig lures and hose it all clean in minutes.

Built For Salt: Materials and Finish That Last

Marine jobs fail when detail is ignored. We match material to task, then finish for the environment you run in.

• Aluminium: light & stiff for structure, etched & coated where needed
• 316 stainless: rails & hardware with passivation to slow tea staining
• Isolation: nylon sleeves & gaskets between dissimilar metals
• Drainage: weep paths so water never sits inside tubes

Clean welds, sealed penetrations and smart drainage beat thick paint every time.

Fit-Out That Does No Harm

Installation can make or break the job. We back every fastener with plates, torque to spec and seal penetrations so water stays out. Cables run in protected paths with service loops. Before panels go back on, you get photos of hidden work for your records.

Simple Care That Keeps It Looking New

• Rinse after each trip, then dry to stop salt spots setting
• Inspect weld toes & feet of brackets each service
• Touch up knocked coatings early
• Re-passivate stainless if tea staining starts & fix the cause
• Check isolation pads & replace if they crush or creep

A five-minute routine saves years of life.

How To Brief Your Fabricator

Help us build it right the first time.

• What you do on the water: fish, dive or family cruising
• Loads: people on ladders, tanks full, number of rods
• Clearances: trailer width, bridge or garage height
• Electrics: lights, antennas & washdown points
• Finish: powder coat, polish or paint

Photos and rough measurements of tricky areas speed up design.

Book Master Metals Fabrication for Marine Upgrades

We at Master Metals Fabrication design and build marine awnings, targa tops, rails, fuel tanks, solar brackets, tender davit brackets and bait boards that fit your boat and the way you use it. We measure on board, weld clean and install with isolation so the gear stays quiet and strong at sea. Tell us your plan and we will map a build that is light, safe and ready for salt.