The founder of Southern California-based Eliminator Boats, high-performance marine industry icon Bob Leach has died after a longtime battle with multiple health issues. Leach, who was known as “The Godfather of West Coast Custom Boating” and widely beloved in the go-fast boating community nationwide, was 85 years old.
Bob was more than a founder, he was an innovator, a craftsman, and a pioneer whose passion for performance and perfection helped shape an entire industry,” said Jake Fraleigh of Eliminator Boats in a press release issued this morning. “His bold ideas and relentless pursuit of excellence defined the Eliminator name and inspired generations of boaters, builders, and enthusiasts across the country.”
Founded by Leach in 1969, Eliminator Boats reportedly produced upwad of 300 boats a year during its hey-days of the 1990s and early 2000s. Though the company built a line of V-bottoms dubbed the Eagle series, Eliminator’s Daytona catamaran line popularized center-pod-designed cats. They became a staple of the West Coast market, as did the company’s high-performance deckboats.
Bob Leach created the Eliminator brand, which is still going strong.
Leach inspired a generation of Southern California-based boat-builders who worked for him including Dave Hemmingson, who founded what has become DCB Performance Marine and is based in Phoenix, and Tony Chiaramonte, now the company’s president.
“Bob Leach was like a father to me,” Chiaramonte recalled. “He remains the true West Coast Godfather of the performance-boating industry. He made an imprint on everyone who worked for him at Eliminator Boats and DCB.
“He truly was an amazing man,” he added.
Jeff Johnston, Chiaramonte’s former colleague at DCB Performance Marine, agreed.
“Bob Leach is an icon,” said Johnston, who is now with Phoenix-based Octane Marine. “He was the Godfather of the West Coast performance boating industry before I was even born. Bob was always such a warm and welcoming person. And his business acumen was always felt.
“He will surely be missed,” he added.
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