Stingray boats are made by Stingray Boat Company, a family owned manufacturer headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina.
The brand is known for entry level and mid tier sport boats, deck boats, and center consoles built around a patented performance hull.
Stingray remains privately held and family owned, representing one of the longest continuous ownerships in the marine industry.
Knowing that Stingray has stayed independent since 1979, outside the large corporate groups that own many competing brands, helps explain the company’s ability to react quickly to changing market conditions.
This article covers Stingray’s ownership, where the boats are built, its patented Z-Plane hull, and how it compares to fellow value oriented builder Crownline.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Stingray Boats?
Stingray was founded in 1979 by Al Fink in Hartsville, South Carolina, starting with just two molds and a small team of skilled craftsmen.
The company has remained privately held and family owned throughout its history, a distinction it shares with relatively few boat builders still competing against larger corporate owned brands.
In 2018, founder Al Fink passed the company’s presidential role to Barry Avent, while Stingray remained under family ownership.
Where Are Stingray Boats Made?
Stingray boats are manufactured in Hartsville, South Carolina, across more than 225,000 square feet of manufacturing space on a 46 acre campus.
Stingray was an early adopter of CAD driven CNC routers in 1985 and introduced robotics lamination to its production process in 1989.
The company earned Mercury Marine’s Certified Manufacturer status in 2004 and has received Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index Awards in multiple categories from 2007 through 2019.
What Is Stingray’s Z-Plane Hull?
Stingray’s patented Z-Plane hull, secured in 1991, is designed with no added volumes or surfaces, or strakes, which the company says makes it up to 30 percent more efficient than other boat hulls.
The lighter hull construction that helps deliver this efficiency is also the subject of some owner debate, since a lighter layup can flex more than a heavier hull in rough water.
Stingray is a founding member of the American Boatbuilders Association, pooling purchasing and engineering resources with other members including Grady-White and Regal.
Stingray vs Crownline: How Do the Value Brands Compare?
Stingray and Crownline both compete in the entry level to mid tier sport boat market, and shoppers frequently cross shop the two brands on price and features.
Forum members most often compare Stingray to Bayliner given the similar price positioning, generally describing Stingray as a notch above on fit and finish.
Because Stingray remains independently owned while Crownline recently changed hands, some buyers specifically value Stingray’s stability of ownership when making a purchase decision. See Who Makes Crownline Boats and Who Makes Cobalt Boats for more sport boat comparisons.
Are Stingray Boats Any Good?
Stingray earns generally positive reviews from owners on forums like iboats Boating Forums, with several long term owners reporting decades of use, including one member whose 190 SS survived 28 years on Lake Erie without a single problem.
Multiple owners specifically praise Stingray’s factory customer service, describing fast, knowledgeable responses to technical questions even years after purchase, according to owner accounts on iboats Boating Forums.
The two most recurring complaints involve rough water performance and hull flex, with some owners describing a tendency to porpoise at certain speeds and others noting the lighter, thinner layup flexes more than heavier competing hulls, occasionally leading to gel coat cracking, according to a reliability review of Stingray Boats from GoDownsize.
Most owners frame these as reasonable tradeoffs for an entry level boat, and several specifically note that porpoising is easily corrected with trim tabs, while describing Stingray as a clear step up from Bayliner in overall quality.
The honest takeaway is that Stingray delivers genuinely strong value and customer service for an entry level buyer, but those planning to run in consistently rough or open water should be aware of the lighter hull’s tendency to flex compared to heavier built competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stingray Boats
Is Stingray still family owned?
Yes, Stingray remains privately held and family owned, founded by Al Fink in 1979.
Where is Stingray’s factory located?
Stingray boats are manufactured in Hartsville, South Carolina.
What is Stingray’s Z-Plane hull?
The Z-Plane is Stingray’s patented hull design, secured in 1991, built without added volumes or strakes for improved efficiency.
How old is the Stingray brand?
Stingray was founded in 1979, making it nearly 50 years old as of 2026.
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.