Our Story
Whit’s was started with Mercury Outboards in Fall of 1971, our store was started with the idea that we would be a small engine dealer with WaCo Boats. Whit was retiring out of the Air Force with 22 years and He and Kay wanted a business for their two son’s Butch and Rick. They started this with a one stall shop and a showroom that would hold two small boats, the building they were in was used for Dean’s Produce in Alma, AR. They turned the produce shed into a boat display and now had a shed that would cover around 15 boats. Their idea of just being a small engine and boat dealer soon went away. They expanded with lines like WaCo, GM, PowerCat, Falcon, Ouachita, Kingfisher, Alumacraft, Alumaweld, Grumman, Streaker, Holiday, Silverline, Fisher Marine, StarCraft, Glasstream, ProCraft, Skeeter Bass Boats, Beretta and Success, Celebrity, Mariah, Cobalt, Allison, Mirage Race Boats, G3, Yamaha and Evinrude Outboards and I am sure I left someone out but that being said in 2002 we made the greatest decision in our store history and future, we took on the line of Tracker Marine Group which includes Tracker, Sun Tracker, Nitro, Mako, and Tahoe. I could not ask for a better business partner then Johnny Morris and the people of Tracker Marine. Their no hassle pricing is great so everyone gets the same price but at a great value, the way this company treats their dealers is unmatched in the industry, and then what Johnny Morris and Tracker Marine puts back into the conservation is unmatched by any other marine company. As you look at this list of boat brands you see that a lot are gone or under new ownership but Tracker is over 40 years old and under one owner and the same with Whit’s Marine we have been in business for over 47 years under the family of Whit, Kay, Rick, and Butch Whitlow. We have a lot to be proud of with a Master Tech and 2 Certified Techs and heart and attitude to make sure our customer comes first. From a building that started in Alma, AR. in 1971 that would fit one small boat in the shop and 2 small boats in the showroom to a location in Fort Smith, AR that takes up a city block and a building that is 27000 sq ft that will hold over 40 boats under one roof and a shop that has 4 service bays and 2 rigging bays we are ready to serve you in your boating fun. Whit’s Marine 823 North 11th Fort Smith AR. Serving the Fort Smith and Surrounding Area for over 50 Years.