About Us

 

Paul Dawson started Trafalgar Marine Services due to the lack of fender makers that could keep up with the large number of boats being produced during the late 1990s. Originally he learned the traditional rope skills involved whilst still at High Storrs School in Sheffield. After working in the diesel heating industry he decided to found the company in 2003. 

 Along the way he developed a unique way to produce fender cores (middles) out of recycled rubber crumb from car tyres. Moulding the fender cores from rubber crumb is a better way to produce a consistent product compared to using rolled up tyre sidewalls, rope or even carpet as some others do.

Michael Dawson joined the company in 2005 after studying Computing at Manchester Metropolitan University. He started the online presence through the website and on eBay. To date we have shipped over eight thousand orders directly to customers through the Trafalgar Marine website. In 2019 we also began to sell through the popular Amazon platform.     

we are proud to have supplied some of the largest boat builders, wholesalers and retailers in the country. If you would like our latest Trade Price List please contact us. 

We want to continue to produce quality rope fenders at a reasonable price. We have innovated in key areas using machinery where possible. We have created specialised machines and processes to cut down the time taken to produce our products whilst cutting down on wastage. We also extrude a recycled PVC side fender that acts like rubber but is a considerably better solution for the environment. 

 

Meet the Team

Paul Dawson - Founder, Chief Fender Maker Michael Dawson - Managing Director, Web Master Matthew Park - Junior Fender Maker
Michael Dawson Holding A 14mm Softline Mooring Rope Eye Splice Matthew Park Junior Fender Maker Hard At Work On A Long Button Fender