Acquisition follows December 2025 purchase of Qwest Pontoons and expands Whisper Marine into the sport boat, deck boat, and cruiser segments. Production continues at Crownline’s Southern Illinois facility, with planned investment to innovate and increase capacity.
JOHNSON CITY, TN – Whisper Marine, LLC has acquired Crownline Boats, an American manufacturer of sport, deck, and cruiser boats headquartered in West Frankfort, Illinois. The acquisition is Whisper Marine’s second in six months, following the December 2025 purchase of Qwest Pontoons, and expands the company’s marine portfolio into a new category of recreational boating.
Whisper Marine is part of Whisper USA, LLC, an American manufacturer of premium outdoor lifestyle products founded and led by CEO Dave Hatley. Headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee, Whisper USA designs and manufactures hot tubs, swim spas, cold plunges, luxury golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and boats at facilities in Tennessee, Michigan, and now Illinois.
Crownline has delivered more than 90,000 boats to dealers and customers worldwide. The brand is widely recognized for its industry-leading gelcoat cosmetics, precision build quality, and rigorous quality assurance, including water testing on Lake Crownline prior to every shipment. Whisper Marine plans to invest in product innovation and expanded capacity at the state-of-the-art Southern Illinois facility, and to grow the Crownline dealer network, building on the brand’s strong dealer relationships and reputation for American craftsmanship.
“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.”
The Crownline acquisition is part of a multi-year strategy to build a portfolio of American-made marine brands serving distinct segments of the recreational boating market.
About Whisper USA, LLC and Whisper Marine, LLC
Whisper USA, LLC is an American manufacturer of premium outdoor lifestyle products, founded and led by CEO Dave Hatley and headquartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. The company designs and manufactures hot tubs, swim spas, cold plunges, luxury golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and boats at facilities in Tennessee, Michigan, and Illinois, with Whisper Marine, LLC as its marine division and Crownline Boats and Whisper Pontoons as current marine brands.
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