Pontoon maker Bentley Industries has acquired Glassmaster Marine, a fiberglass boat company in Lexington, S.C.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The purchase gives South Carolina-based Bentley the ability to immediately start manufacturing fiberglass boats in sizes from 18 to 26 feet, according to the company.
Glassmaster has been in the fiberglass business since 1957 and will continue to build pleasure and center console boats. Bentley will add several runabout models, plus fish and ski boats to the product line. Bentley expects to hire 75 to 100 additional employees.
Bentley Industries is a privately held company owned and operated by CEO Steve Deese. Bentley, known for the pontoon boats the company manufactures, has plants in Lexington, S.C. and Mexico, Mo. The company also owns and operates Duracraft Marine, which builds aluminum boats in Columbia, S.C.
In a statement, Deese says the acquisition will strengthen the dealers' capabilities. The company will offer all of its products to its dealer network, which includes more than 200 dealers in the United States and Canada.
