Eliminator Not Attending LA Show - The Real Reason

I'm a little late to the party on this one, as the press release has gone out via Bob Brown to a multitude of customers, and media outlets. So in typical RDP fashion we will dive into it a little deeper and show you a little of what they are building! I was only able to attain a few pics, but I plan on going there on Friday morning to take a bunch more. As you might have read on our LA BoatShow - what to expect article Eliminator will not be at the show this year, which is a bit of a downer for Eliminator fans this year. There's a lot of speculation as to why they aren't going, the companies official position is more or less "We sold the boats we were going to take!" There's a little more to the story then that though, because we all know Bob could've rounded up some hulls either in production, or borrowed a few boats to make the show. (Albeit using things that have been seen before in the show usually produces lack luster sales)

What happened in December and early January nobody expected, least of all Bob. Starting on nine new builds one after another in the middle of winter is something that most people in the marine industry would equate to the same odds of winning the lottery. After dismal sales for all companies over the last six years, most companies would be happy to build nine boats in a year, let alone have contracts and line drawings, along with deposits sitting on there desk.



In talking with Bob this morning, he regrets not being able to attend the 2014 boat show, but he just can't spare the personnel or delay the time lines on his current builds to be there. He would need to take at least three of his guys off builds right now to haul them out there, and setup the booth. A couple of guys to work the booth for the weekend, and then the same three guys to tear down and bring everything home. When he did the math on delaying his current orders, and the expense of the show itself he ultimately had to make the hard decision to stand down.



This will be the first time Eliminator has missed the show that I can remember. To the Eliminator Fans, RDP has been assured that Bob and team Eliminator will be back exhibiting at the LA Show in 2015!



Eliminator is offering Boat Show pricing through the end of February, and this weekend from Thursday to Sunday will be having Hamburgers, Pizzas, Sodas, and my personal favorite Beer.

So now we get into the more thorough portion of the article.. What are they building?

In talking with Bob this is the line up right now

28 Speedster - GT Performance
28 Speedster - GT Performance
28 Daytona - Twin 520 Merc's
38 Eagle (out of the mold) - Twin merc 600's
34 Eagle (in the mold) - Twin 502's
26 Daytona - Custom 1300-1400 HP motor out of New York
27 Speedster - Power Undecided
33 Daytona Walk Through Open Bow - Twin 565's
36 Speedster - Customer supplied motors (unsure of power at this point)




Eliminators official Press Release

ELIMINATOR BOATS RUNNING AT FULL PRODUCTION CAPACITY
Factory Shop Tours and Hospitality Refreshments Available February 6-9 in Mira Loma, CA

Mira Loma, CA: Bob Leach, owner/founder of Eliminator Boats in 1969 has seen the best and worst of times in the performance boating industry. ?These past six years have been the toughest since I?ve been in the boat manufacturing business,? comments Bob. ?But it looks like patience and perseverance is finally starting to pay off. We currently have more boats on order and in production since the beginning of the economic decline in 2007. And it?s a mix of all sizes, both cats and vee-bottoms. In fact, our production schedule is so tight that we can?t even afford to take time to exhibit at the 2014 L.A. Boat Show. We?ve made commitments to our customers to deliver boats on time, and that?s what we intend to do.?

?I know some of our Eliminator fans may be disappointed that we are not at the L.A. Show,? continues Bob, ?but we?re prepared to do the next best thing and have a four-day, February 6-9 factory open house with shop tours and complimentary lunch/beverages for those who stop by. Even if we can?t take time-off to make the boat show this year, we?re still going to be offering special boat show pricing all through the month of February. I think everyone will be impressed by what we have in production, it?s some of the best boats we?ve built in our 44 year history.?

Within the last week, Eliminator has finished and water-tested a brand new 30 Daytona with a pair of Mercury Racing?s new 565 engine and drive packages headed for delivery to the customer in New York. Even with conservative propping, the 30 Daytona is running in the 110 to 120 mph top speed range. As of February 1, a total of nine new builds are in production at the Eliminator factory including a 33 Daytona open bow with twin Merc 565s, 380 and 340 Eagle XP vee-bottoms for customers in Nigeria, and a 26 Daytona also heading to New York in the next few weeks.



Additional important 2014 Eliminator dates to make note of are: see us at the 23[SUP]rd[/SUP] Annual Lake Havasu Boat Show, April 11-13, Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4; Desert Storm Street Party, April 24 on McCulloch Blvd., Lake Havasu; and Lake of the Ozarks Shoot-Out, August 23-24.

written by RiverDave