Eddie Borges, owner of marine and automobile accessory manufacturer Eddie Marine of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, died Sunday after a long battle with lung cancer, Speedboat has learned.

Borges, 59, got a job at Southern California-based Nicson Engineering Co., the legendary speed-equipment manufacturer, back in 1980. He enjoyed working in the industry, he told Speedboat. He launched his own company in 1993, explaining that he always intended to create his own products and becoming a manufacturer. One of his early innovations was the EMI Thunder Exhaust system, which quickly became one of Eddie Marine’s most popular items. “We consistently look for things that the marine industry needs,” he said. “Adding my own machine shop enabled us to make just about anything we want to. If we can dream it, we have the ability to make it.”

Eddie Marine worked closely with performance boat builders to supply hardware and other parts as various models took shape. “A company like Eliminator Boats will call and say, ‘We need you to make some air vents that look good on this boat.’ So we look at the boats and design what the boat needs to make it look it that much better. We just do exactly what they want us to do.”

The company’s thousands of products range from exhaust systems and electrical components to gauges and trim tabs.

The staff of Speedboat sends prayers to Eddie’s staff and family members.

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