Crownline Boats for Sale
Crownline has built more than 90,000 boats in southern Illinois since 1991. Most used Crownlines are sterndrive bowriders, and they are some of the most common family runabouts on inland lakes.
From a school gym to West Frankfort
Crownline was founded in 1990 by Tim Claxton and Laura Claxton-Eader, with a small shop in Whittington, Illinois, and an upholstery shop in an old school gymnasium. A team of 25 finished the first boat, a 182 BR bowrider, on March 25, 1991. By July the company had moved to a bigger building in West Frankfort, where it still builds boats.
Pouschine Cook Capital Management recapitalized the company in 2007, with Kevin Riem as CEO. On June 26, 2026, Whisper Marine acquired Crownline. Every new boat is water tested on Lake Crownline next to the plant.
The milestone boats
Crownline's own timeline shows which models sold in volume: the 10,000th boat was a 225 BR (November 1994), the 25,000th and 50,000th were both 202 BRs (1999 and 2005), the 75,000th was a 230 CC fishing boat (2019) and the 90,000th was a 250 XSS outboard (2023). The 202 BR and its siblings are why there are so many used Crownline bowriders out there.
Model lines
- SS and XSS: sterndrive and outboard bowriders, the core of the range.
- E and EXS: the Eclipse sport boats, including surf models.
- LPX: deck-boat style models.
- Cruisers: cuddies and small overnighters.
- CC: center console fishing boats, first offered as 2020 models.
Example: the E255
The 2026 E255 is 25'3" long with an 8'6" beam, a 5,700 lb dry weight, a 53-gallon tank and 19 degrees of deadrise. Power is a MerCruiser 6.2L at 300 or 350 hp or an 8.2L at 380 hp. Base price with the standard 300 hp engine was $124,995. It has a 100 percent composite transom, an enclosed head and a tandem-axle trailer as standard.
What to check on a used Crownline
Sterndrive. Most used Crownlines have a MerCruiser sterndrive. Check the bellows, gimbal bearing and shift cable, and pull the drive oil to look for water. Ask for a compression test and the hours.
Transom. Newer Crownlines have composite transoms. On older boats, check for flex around the drive and cracks in the gelcoat near the transom plate.
Floors and upholstery. Walk the floor for soft spots and look at seat bases and vinyl seams. Snap-in carpet hides a lot, so pull it up.
Engine compartment. Look for rust on the manifolds and risers, oil in the bilge, and corroded wiring. Freshwater lake boats usually age better than saltwater ones.
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Frequently asked questions
Where are Crownline boats built?
West Frankfort, Illinois, since July 1991.
Who owns Crownline now?
Whisper Marine acquired Crownline on June 26, 2026.
What was the first Crownline?
A 182 BR bowrider, finished on March 25, 1991.