Thomas Marine was founded in 1971 by Brian Thomas. By 1978, Thomas Marine made its successful venture into the custom metal fabrication business in the Shelter Island Area serving Racing Sail Boats, Power Boats and Cruising Sail Boats. The business soon expanded to Custom Homes, Public Art, Scientific, Research and Environmental Projects. Thomas Marine builds anything out of metal, expertly designed, using the highest quality materials and skilled craftsmen.
Thomas Marine is one of the finest metal fabrication and welding shops in the San Diego Area known by customers as the “Metal Jewelers”. We have established the reputation with a professional, knowledgable staff, dedicated to the customers’ needs. We are proud to have a long list of satisfied customers.
In 2018, Richard Allen took over Thomas Marine and has continued to work with Brian to guarantee the highest quality craftsmanship.
Thomas Marine, one of the oldest and most esteemed custom metal fabrication shops in San Diego, California, offers unparalleled expertise in metal craftsmanship. Our state-of-the-art facilities are equipped for Tig, Mig, and Arc welding, alongside advanced mill and lathe machining. We excel in metal finishing, engineering, and design across a diverse range of metals, including stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze. Specializing in sectors such as high-end residential, military, marine, aerospace, automotive, and both public and private art, Thomas Marine is renowned for its extensive credibility and reliability in the marine industry across California. Our dedication to quality and precision makes us the preferred choice for complex and specialized metal fabrication needs.
Born of immigrant parents who managed to obtain the proverbial American Dream through citizenship and hard work, Rich’s journey began as a veteran U.S. Army intelligence specialist, which led to him running a division of a large private detective firm while obtaining 2 bachelor degrees (summa cum laude) at Arizona State University.
This education propelled him to obtaining a juris doctor degree at University of San Diego Law School. After successfully practicing as a civil trial attorney for over a decade (defense and plaintiff personal injury), his lifelong affliction of enjoying fishing a bit too much led him to commercial lobster fishing, and subsequently graduating from San Diego Maritime Institute with a 100 ton U.S.C.G license. Naturally, this led to becoming an owner / operator of a 32 passenger fishing vessel (“M/V Invicta”) out of H&M Landing.
Realizing there is as much fun fabricating and building ships as there is fishing (well, almost), Rich started a welding business servicing commercial fishing vessels, which morphed in to acquiring Thomas Marine, with a goal of maintaining the high quality custom marine metal fabrication Mr. Thomas has developed over decades.