Saluting A Trio Of Departed West Coast Marine Industry Leaders
As reported on speedonthewater.com, Bob Leach died yesterday. More than the founder of Eliminator Boats of Mira Loma, Calif., the 85-year-old gentleman remains widely credited as the driving force behind the West Coast Custom powerboat movement in its earliest days—he launched the Eliminator brand in 1969—and popularizing center-pod catamarans, go-fast deck-boats and more. His influence was as powerful as it was undeniable, and it made an impact across the country.
Flanked former speedonthewater.com co-publisher Jason Johnson (left) and DCB vice-president Tony Chiaramonte, the late Bob Leach founded what is now DCB Performance Marine in 1969.
Leach was an influencer at a time when the term meant something beyond being a social media personality with a big following. His work produced tangible goods of lasting value and brought joy to thousands of Eliminator owners and their loved ones.
Leach’s death was the second loss of a West Coast-based marine industry notable in less than two full months, and the third such loss this year.
Less than two weeks ago, the high-performance engine-building world lost 72-year-old Paul Pffaf. The founder of Pffaf Racing Engines in Huntington Beach, Calif., Pffaf built potent marine engines of substance for a number or custom powerboat manufacturers during the years.
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