Chaparral boats are made by Marine Products Corporation, a publicly traded manufacturer headquartered in Nashville, Georgia.
The brand is known for fiberglass sport boats, deck boats, and cruisers, and has won 27 industry awards including nine Boat of the Year trophies from Powerboat Magazine, according to a profile of founder Buck Pegg from Boatblurb.
Marine Products Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MPX, and the Rollins family of Atlanta has historically controlled a majority stake in the company.
Knowing who owns Chaparral matters right now because the company entered a definitive merger agreement with MasterCraft Boat Holdings in early 2026, a deal that will reshape its corporate ownership while keeping manufacturing in Georgia.
This article covers Chaparral’s current ownership, where the boats are built, its pending merger with MasterCraft, and how the brand compares to its sister company, Robalo.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Chaparral Boats?
Chaparral Boats was founded in 1965 by William “Buck” Pegg and Reggie Rose in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, under the original company name Fiberglass Fabricators.
Chaparral was spun off from RPC, Inc. in 2001 to form Marine Products Corporation, which also owns the Robalo outboard fishing boat brand.
In February 2026, MasterCraft Boat Holdings announced a definitive agreement to acquire Marine Products Corporation in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $232.2 million, with the deal expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2026, according to a report on the merger from Boating Industry.
Where Are Chaparral Boats Made?
Chaparral boats are manufactured in Nashville, Georgia, where the company has been based since 1976 after outgrowing its original Fort Lauderdale facility.
The Nashville manufacturing campus has expanded roughly 30 times over from its original 37,000 square feet to more than 1.2 million square feet today.
Under the pending MasterCraft merger, the combined company will be headquartered in Vonore, Tennessee, but Chaparral and Robalo production will remain in Nashville, Georgia.
What Does the MasterCraft Merger Mean for Chaparral?
MasterCraft CEO Brad Nelson will lead the combined company, while Marine Products CEO Ben Palmer has said MasterCraft is expected to be a strong steward of the Chaparral and Robalo brands.
MasterCraft expects to keep the Chaparral and Robalo leadership teams, brands, and employees intact as a separate operating unit within the larger combined company.
The combined company will operate under five brands, MasterCraft, Crest, Balise, Chaparral, and Robalo, giving it a broader footprint across performance, leisure, recreational, and sport fishing boat categories.
Chaparral vs Robalo: What Is the Difference?
Chaparral and Robalo are sister brands under Marine Products Corporation, but they serve different types of boaters.
Chaparral focuses on sterndrive and outboard sport boats, deck boats, and cruisers designed for family recreation and watersports.
Robalo, based in nearby Valdosta, Georgia, specializes in outboard powered saltwater fishing boats, giving Marine Products Corporation a presence in both the recreational and sport fishing segments of the industry.
Are Chaparral Boats Any Good?
Chaparral generally earns solid, if mixed, reviews from long time boating forum members, with many owners reporting years of trouble free use.
On forums like The Hull Truth and Club Sea Ray, Chaparral is frequently ranked alongside Sea Ray and Four Winns as good overall quality, one tier below premium brands like Cobalt and Regal.
Some longtime forum members have flagged a decline in build quality over the past 10 to 15 years, particularly on smaller models, along with recurring complaints about vinyl and seat materials failing prematurely.
Better Business Bureau complaints show a mix of resolved and unresolved warranty disputes, most centered on cosmetic issues like console vinyl and electrical faults rather than structural hull problems.
The honest takeaway is that Chaparral has a long track record of building boats that hold up well structurally, but buyers should ask their dealer directly about recent build quality and warranty responsiveness, since owner sentiment has grown more mixed on newer models.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chaparral Boats
Is Chaparral a publicly traded company?
Chaparral’s parent company, Marine Products Corporation, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MPX, though it is being acquired by MasterCraft Boat Holdings in a deal expected to close in 2026.
Where is Chaparral’s manufacturing facility?
Chaparral boats are built in Nashville, Georgia, a facility the company has operated since 1976.
Will Chaparral still be made in Georgia after the MasterCraft merger?
Yes, MasterCraft has stated it will maintain Chaparral and Robalo operating facilities in Nashville, Georgia, after the merger closes.
Does Chaparral make fishing boats?
Chaparral itself focuses on sport boats, deck boats, and cruisers, while its sister brand Robalo specializes in outboard saltwater fishing boats.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.