Hailed as a pillar of the Canadian boating industry, Victor Duhamel, the founder of Legend Boats, has died. He was 82.
“It is with deep sadness and profound respect that we announce the passing of Victor Duhamel, the dynamic and pioneering co-founder of Legend Boats,” the company said in a news release today.
Born Feb. 15, 1941, in Lively, Duhamel and Carl Dewar partnered to sell tires under the Duhamel & Dewar name in 1968. According to the company history at LegendBoats.com, they sold everything from tires to recreational vehicles, but found it was too difficult to buy a boat in Canada and even harder to find a boat built in Canada.
Thus, in 1986, Legend Boats was born.
“Vic and Carl started by creating affordable and complete boat, motor and trailer packages and created a fully-priced catalogue so that pricing was easy for anyone interested in getting their family on the water,” the history states. “Then, they beefed up their boats with thicker aluminum and made full stand-up tops standard on most full windshield models to make sure every Legend boat could handle the rugged Canadian climate while keeping boaters safe and comfortable.”
Besides their innovative catalogue, Legend Boats pioneered other industry firsts, including the rear bench that converts into an extended casting deck and sleek molded consoles in aluminum boats.
“I will always remember Vic as a visionary in the marine industry,” said Jamie Dewar, co-CEO and son of Carl Dewar, in the news release. “His innovative approach to business set new horizons, but it was his deep love for people that truly made waves in our hearts and the industry.”
“My father, Victor, was an incredible family man who worked hard to help create memories for our customers, our work family and our partners in business,” said Marc Duhamel, president and co-CEO, in the release. “My father shared a love and passion for everything outdoors. He believed strongly in family and always made time for what is truly important in life, the time we spend with family and friends.”
Duhamel was married to Ruthann for nearly 60 years, and was a proud father, grandfather and great grandfather.
“He was an incredible husband to my mother, Ruthann, who he fell in love with at first sight and was married to for nearly 60 years,” Duhamel’s son, Marc, said. “He was an incredible father, grandfather and great grandfather, who always supported each of us to be our best. He was a valued mentor who always took the time to teach and share his experience. An incredible story teller, my father lived life to the fullest and has shared more stories than I can ever recount. He shared these over and over and we will miss them.”
The Legend Boats family continues to Duhamel’s sons Marc and Jeff at the helm of various facets of the business, and his grandchildren gearing up to carry forward his indomitable spirit.
Legend Boats designs and manufactures more than 30 models of aluminum fish/ski/cruise boats, four deck boat models and more than 40 models of pontoon boats that are distributed through more than 60 Legend Partner Dealers across Canada.
Legend Boats also owns and manages four dealerships, three of which in are in Ontario and one in Montreal, Que.
The company won a Northern Ontario Business Award in 2018.
— Sudbury.com
