1993 | Ralph De Silva
It is rare for a builder of wood racecraft to have a long career, especially in the smaller Outboard classes. However, De Silvas have been building boats for half a century!
Ralph De Silva's father began the boat shop near Los Angeles, CA, in 1929. Ralph and his brother took over and built excellent boats in almost all APBA categories. At one time their best-known hull, the Alky Runabout, held every PRO record.
They have also produced exotic craft, from a two-man, two-engine hydro for the McCulloch race team in the 1960s, to the wing design that won the Parker Nine Hour Enduro Marathon around 1970. They have built every imaginable type of race boat and keep popping up with innovative designs.
Few have contributed as much to APBA boat racing as Ralph De Silva and his family.