Whisper Marine Expanding Quickly with Acquisition of Crownline Boats

BoatBlurb Contributor
2 hours ago
2 min read

Whisper Marine, LLC, has acquired Illinois-based boat manufacturer Crownline Boats, adding another recreational marine brand to its growing portfolio.

Whisper Marine is a division of the larger Whisper USA, LLC, a privately held American manufacturer of outdoor products based in Johnson City, Tennessee. Whisper USA manufactures and sells products across several recreational categories through its Whisper Outdoor branding, including boats through Whisper Marine, hot tubs, swim spas, luxury electric golf carts under Whisper Carts, American Landmaster utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), and cold plunge tubs. The company also houses a lineup of Qwest pontoon boats ranging from 15-25 feet. They acquired Qwest in 2025. Whisper USA also purchased renowned brands Fountain Powerboats and NauticStar in February 2026.

Crownline Boats, headquartered in West Frankfort, Illinois, since it was founded in 1990, manufactures a board range of fiberglass sport boats, deck boats, cruisers and center consoles. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to the company, Crownline will continue operating from its existing facility in West Frankfort. Current dealer relationships will remain in place, with Whisper Marine supporting the brand's existing network while investing in future growth.

“Crownline is one of the most respected names in American boatbuilding, and we are excited to carry it forward,” said Dave Hatley, CEO of Whisper USA. “The team in West Frankfort has built something special over 35 years, and we plan to invest in its continued growth as Whisper Marine adds sport, deck, and cruiser boats to its portfolio.”

Kevin Reim, CEO of Crownline Boats, said joining Whisper Marine positions the company for its next phase of development.

"This partnership represents an exciting new chapter for Crownline," Reim said. "Whisper Marine shares our commitment to craftsmanship, innovation and dealer relationships, and we're confident this will create new opportunities for our employees, dealers and customers."

“These discussions have been ongoing for some time, but the time is now right to take the next step into our future,” added Kevin Riem, VP and General Manager of Crownline, according to Boating Industry. “This announcement marks a point in time in which we are pivoting from “defense to offense” in the market, as we look towards a bright new future. Whisper Marine brings with it a commitment to manufacturing excellence, advanced innovation, and expanded digital marketing expertise, all of which everyone on our team will benefit from. Our entire Crownline team is embracing this next chapter, and we will remain here to help in every way we can. We would like everyone to know how strongly we feel that this is a “good thing” for everyone involved with the Crownline brand!”

The acquisition of Crownline will be the fourth boat brand acquired by Whisper USA in just six months. It will also give Whisper Marine its first offering in bowriders, deck boats, and cuddy cabins while spreading its marine division into three U.S. states - Tenneesse, Michigan, and Illinois.

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