History
The Difference that is DALE
A Balance of Tradition and Technology
DALE has grown from a family business founded in 1961 by Campbell Reynolds to the internationally renowned business of today.
The history is unique.
Eight generations of farming, fishing and work that a life by the sea provided…..building boats, servicing the offshore lighthouses of the Smalls, Skokholm, and South Bishop. The chandlery stocking the largest range of traditional marine wool wear and waterproof clothing in the country, regularly visited by Henri Lloyd himself and attracting loyal customers who drove miles and miles to come and purchase a Norwegian jumper! In the adjoining boathouse, Campbell, Seymour his father and the family built and repaired wooden boats by hand – skills passed on from generation to generation.
In the early days of GRP, the company mastered new skills, embracing the new materials and technology of the time and built its first fibre glass boat. The ‘Dale Princess’ was born and she remains in daily service today taking thousands out to visit the spectacular Pembrokeshire islands.
Campbell and his sons, John and Mike expanded the business to Brunel Quay in 1983, a fitting location steeped in boatbuilding history. The next chapter unfolded with the beginning of an enduring dream involvement with TT Boat Designs the originators of the Nelson design, one of the true greats with an unrivalled heritage of sea-keeping.
The first DALE Nelson was launched to enthusiastic press acclaim. Nearly three decades later, continuous advances in marine design and engineering have enabled us to continually move forward with a perfect balance of tradition and technology- a philosophy gloriously captured with the Classic 45 in 2004, taken in a new direction in 2010 with the introduction of the DALE 23 high performance launch, the ultimate expression of personalisation with the Classic 35 in 2014 and the beautifully packaged DALE 28 in 2017.
2019 has seen the launch to great acclaim of our new DALE 40, a brand new design from the keel up as well as the addition of exciting new features to the DALE 28.
The success story continues….
The deep connection with the sea and seamanship, the love and appreciation of tradition and craftsmanship and the importance of family and family values underpin everything that is DALE today.
Perfectly crafted
To commission a DALE is like no other buying experience … individually tailored to your taste so that every detail is a perfect match to you.
Step aboard and exquisite craftsmanship abounds. The quality of finish and attention to detail needs to be seen to be believed. Beautifully fitted joinery…. hewn from the solid wood of choice. Every line and curve in effortless harmony, joints hand crafted with such skill they almost become invisible. Open a cabinet, slide open a drawer and the same exemplary craftsmanship is revealed.
Surfaces polished to perfection ….the gloss of the gleaming hull, the sparkle of flawless stainless, wood finished with so many coats of varnish that it glints like glass. Natural materials selected for their superior quality ….. solid oak, cherry, flawless leather combined effortlessly with the latest in high tech materials.
Engineering systems meticulously installed with the same DALE flourish…. the engine room where luxury meets top specifications, the anchor system providing the smoothest recovery, personalised helm console where state of the art electronics are beautifully presented, the compass binnacle a masterclass in joinery and refinement.
‘The hand crafted attention to detail is rare and the carpentry is some of the best you’ll find.’
‘The design is simple but the execution is mouthwatering’
Customer Cruising Reports
Third Party Test Reports
Model Specification Sheets
