| Incorporated in 1990, Crownline began as a small family-owned builder of runabouts and cruisers based in Whittington, Illinois. Their first model, an 18-foot bowrider, came out early in 1991. Early success drove the company to seek a larger plant, and for a time Crownline built its boats out of the old Mark Twain facility in West Frankfort, Illinois. By 1994 the Crownline fleet had grown to ten models—runabouts and family cruisers—and by then the company had already built over 10,000 boats since their 1991 start-up. Now operating from permanent headquarters in West Frankfort, it’s notable that Crownline has become one of the most successful and fastest-growing independent manufacturers in the country in less than a decade. Today the company employs over 500 people, making it one of the largest employers in southern Illinois. Crownline models—viewed by most industry observers as affordably priced and well built—are distributed throughout the U.S. and Canadian markets as well as through dealerships in several foreign countries. |
