Bob Leach, founder of the legendary Eliminator Boats, has passed away at age 85, leaving behind a legacy that forever changed the world of high-performance boating.
Sixty years ago, Leach—a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes salesman—decided that breakfast cereal wasn’t going to be his life’s work, and embarked on an entirely new path. Like many entrepreneurs in the late 1960s (and a relatively new arrival to Southern California), Leach quickly became enamored with water sports, especially boat-related activities popular in and around the lower Colorado River. He started by building a few boats for friends, and soon his “hobby” inspired orders from up and down the Colorado River—a humble beginning for one of the most influential builders in performance boating. Before long, Eliminator Boats put its sign up on a small commercial building in Huntington Park, CA, its first factory facility manufacturing fiberglass inboard flatbottom ski boats.
The first Eliminators were 18' flatbottoms, with vee-bottoms immediately following. Leach was never one to rest on his laurels: he was always contemplating new, innovative ideas. While other industry CEOs were hampered with engine mounts, etc., only being made for certain motors, Leach custom-made all of his own motor plates and other hardware pieces to allow customers to have whatever they wanted in the way of a motor.
By 1969, an all-new family jet had arrived, and the jet phase lasted for years. With Bob’s passion for speed, the mid-’70s race courses saw Eliminator’s K-boat running competitively in blown-alcohol circle racing. Eliminator’s colors and upholstery were always show quality—it was a thrill to view the latest of their creations at boat shows.
In 1975, Leach commissioned bottom-design wizard Ron Ehde to develop new ideas, and together they formed a working relationship that would last many decades and result in numerous national and world records. The Daytona series tunnels had arrived.
Speedboat once asked Leach which of his creations he was most proud of. "That's simple—the 19 Daytona," he told us. "There was no boat like it around. It was a Ron Edhe design. He was doing a blown fuel hydro for a guy, and I said, 'How about if we just make this into a tunnel boat?' About two weeks later, he came in with this model about two feel long, and it was beautiful. And the reason we called it Daytona is because my favorite car at one point was a 1973 Daytona Ferrari. Anyway, I remember sneaking the first Daytona down to Long Beach with Greg Shoemaker, just him and me, to run it. We didn’t know what the boat was going to do. Twenty minutes later, we’re putting the boat in the water, and there’s five guys standing in the grass, watching us and waiting for us to put it in the water. I was like, 'Greg, I don’t want to run the boat in front of these guys! What if it doesn’t do anything right?' But here’s the deal: It was high tide. I could go up the L.A. River a mile, so I took the boat up there. And it was unbelievable. You know what? I just got goosebumps thinking about it. I was making passes where nobody could see me. And the boat was running like it was on rails. We hadn’t dialed it in or anything. Probably the most famous 19 Daytona back in the day was the Underdog competitor that Greg Shoemaker drove.'
The Eliminator mystique continues to capture the imagination of performance boaters. The Daytonas are among the best-selling hull series in speedboating history, and Eliminator’s line of full-sized, open-water step-vees and tunnels are on the short list of the most formidable pleasure craft of all time. Eliminator is properly credited with developing any number of custom industry platforms and existing trends, and innovation continues to fuel this company’s stupendous success. Eliminator innovated custom interior, gelcoat, hardware and setup, and suddenly put the lake-boat buyer in charge—catalyzing the appeal of our industry. Because of Leach, Eliminator continues to be as much of an innovator as ever, as one of the leading proponents of recreational sport boating. With thousands of successful builds under its belt, Eliminator continues to be one of the most recognizable and sought-after custom boat bands in the country.
By the time Eliminator crossed the half-century mark, its ownership was transfered to RevLine LLC, an investment group formed by Eliminator general manager Jake Fraleigh, and his business partner Todd Mobraten, who purchased Eliminator’s business operations, intellectual property, and certain tangible assets for $1.5 million. Now president of the company, Fraleigh has worked tirelessly to build on Eliminator's brand with exciting new model introductions, like the Speedster 33X.
"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," Fraleigh said. "Since 1969, his bold ideas and relentless pursuit of excellence defined the Eliminator name and inspired generations of boaters, builders, and enthusiasts across the country. His impact is woven into every boat we produce, every customer we’ve served, and every mile on the water. Those who had the privilege of knowing Bob experienced a kind, gentle, and charismatic person. His smile resonated and could connect with all walks of life and find a connection with anyone. He had an immense love for boating and flying. The stories he could tell were captivating and his presence made an impression on everyone he met."
Today, the team at Eliminator Boats mourns the loss of a legend, a mentor, and a friend. "Our deepest condolences go out to Cindy Leach and the Leach family, his loved ones, and the countless people whose lives he touched," Fraleigh added. "We will honor Bob’s legacy by continuing the work he devoted his life to — building exceptional boats that carry forward the spirit, innovation, and pride he instilled in this company. He will forever be part of Eliminator’s DNA. His legacy lives on in every wake."