Our Process

From Intake to Install —
How We Deliver Marine Fabrication Projects

Every DolFab project follows the same seven-step workflow — from your first call to post-delivery follow-up. Here is exactly what happens at each step, what you can expect from us, and which FAQ answers more detail for buyers who need to dig deeper.

01

Intake & Spec Review

Where Every Project Starts

You send us a description, drawings, photos, or a working reference. We read it, ask the clarifying questions that matter, and tell you whether the project is a fit for our shop, your timeline, and your budget — before you commit to anything.

Send Specs & Drawings →
What You Can Expect From Us
A single point of contact from first message through delivery — You talk to one person, not a switchboard. The estimator on your intake call is the same person tracking your job through fabrication.
Response within 24 hours on weekdays — Intake calls and emails get a same-day or next-business-day reply with follow-up questions or a path to a quote.
No-cost review of drawings, specs, and photos — We tell you up front if your scope is a fit, what credentials it requires, and roughly where it sits in lead time — no charge.
Related FAQ
How do I get a quote from DolFab?
Call, email, photos, or use the quote form — what we need to give you a useful number.
02

Site Survey & Measurements

Confirming Geometry Before We Cut

If the project touches existing hardware, a hull, or anything you can't replace with a clean drawing — we measure it ourselves. For refits and like-for-like work, this is where we lock in the geometry that drives fabrication.

What You Can Expect From Us
In-shop drop-off for parts and templates — Bring us a sample, an old bracket, or even a cardboard template. We measure what you bring in and quote against real geometry.
On-vessel site visits from 20' to 330' — We dispatch to your marina or yard — center consoles, sportfishing boats, and superyachts — for measurements and fit confirmation.
3D scanning for complex or undocumented geometry — For parts with no drawings or odd compound curves, we scan on-site, model in CAD, and QC the scan against the as-built shape before cutting.
Related FAQ
Do you offer 3D scanning and printing services?
When scanning helps vs. when hand-measurement is enough — and what the output looks like.
03

Quote & SOW

What You're Actually Committing To

You get a written quote that breaks out labor, materials, and any sub-tier work — plus a Statement of Work that captures scope, assumptions, exclusions, lead-time range, and the documentation your surveyor will need before we cut anything.

What You Can Expect From Us
Itemized quote — labor, materials, sub-tier work separated — You see the price of each line — no rolling everything into a single number and hoping the math is right.
Written Statement of Work with signed scope — Scope, assumptions, and exclusions committed in writing — so there's no mid-project debate about what was or wasn't included.
Materials breakdown with grade and traceability — Every material line lists alloy, thickness, and source — including MTRs (mill test reports) for structural or classified work.
Lead-time range with the driving dependencies — Tier 1 (4–24h), Tier 2 (3–5 days), Tier 3 (5–14 days), and project quotes spanning weeks — explained in terms of what we need from you and the yard.
04

Fabrication

In the Shop — Where the Work Happens

Cut, formed, and welded by Lloyds, ABS & USCG certified welders against a documented WPS (Weld Procedure Specification). Every weld is performing the procedure it was qualified for — not improvising against a Sur-Pak or a shop memory.

What You Can Expect From Us
Lloyds, ABS & USCG certified welders, WPS-qualified — Each welder is qualified per WPQ for the process and position used on your project. The WPS is on file and current before any weld is laid.
WPS-driven welds with procedure qualification records — Joint design, filler metal, preheat, and post-weld treatment are specified — not negotiated at the bench.
In-progress photo updates on multi-week projects — For builds running multiple weeks, we send progress photos at material landing, fit-up, mid-fab, and pre-finish — so you see it without a site visit.
05

Quality Control

Inspection Before Anything Leaves the Shop

Before a part ships, we verify welds, dimensions, and compliance — visually, dimensionally, and with non-destructive testing where the project or your surveyor requires it. Every load-bearing weld ships with the documentation the surveyor will sign against.

What You Can Expect From Us
In-process inspection against WPS at each weld stage — Visual inspection at fit-up, in-process, and final — recorded against the WPS so deviations are caught before paint or polish hides them.
Dimensional verification of fit-up and final geometry — For templates and like-for-like replacements, we verify final dimensions against the original — no surprises when the part lands at the yard.
ABYC compliance check for marine work — H-24 for fuel systems, H-32 for ventilation, E-11 for electrical bonding — verified against the standard before sign-off.
Related FAQ
Do you provide documentation for insurance surveys?
WPS, WPQ, NDT, and material traceability — what the surveyor signs against.
06

Delivery or Install

From Shop Floor to Your Vessel

We deliver the hardware, install it on your vessel, or both — coordinated around your yard window or marina schedule so the install happens without burning other trades' booking time.

What You Can Expect From Us
In-shop pickup for hardware-only jobs — You or your yard collect finished parts at 6800 NW 15th Way, Fort Lauderdale. No appointment needed during shop hours.
On-vessel install coordinated around yard window — For refits and structural installs, we book install directly into your yard or marina window — not as a follow-up call.
Hardware-only shipments direct to the yard — When your installer or your yard handles the install, we ship finished parts direct to the site with the documentation envelope attached.
07

Follow-up & Maintenance Guidance

After Delivery — The Part Most Shops Skip

We don't ship-and-forget. After delivery or install, you get warranty documentation, the maintenance schedule that keeps the work performing, and a real contact for questions that come up the next time the boat's in the yard.

What You Can Expect From Us
Warranty documentation delivered with the work — 12 months against workmanship defects on certified structural work, with the same WPS / WPQ / NDT package your surveyor signed off on.
Maintenance schedule handoff for the work we built — Fresh-water rinse cadence, wash-and-passivation intervals, and any inspection points specific to what we delivered.
Passivation and re-polish service for 316L brightwork — Drop the part at the shop or schedule an on-vessel call. We restore the chromium oxide layer and bring the finish back.

Ready to Start the Workflow?

Tell us about your project — whether it's a fuel tank, a T-top, a full refit, or a structural repair. We'll reply within 24 hours with intake questions and a clear path to a written quote.

Lloyds, ABS & USCG Certified ABYC Compliant WPS / WPQ On File 12-Month Warranty

Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM • 6800 NW 15th Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

Explore More
Services
18 Service Specialties
Marine welding, fabrication, T-tops, fuel tanks, and more
Credentials
Certifications & Standards
ABS, ABYC, ASME, AWS — the credentials behind the work
FAQ
Buyer FAQ
Lead times, rush capacity, materials, maintenance, and warranty