In a move that promises to reshape engine supply and service for the offshore powerboat community, Sterling Engines (Milford, MI) and Chief Offshore Engines (Spring Lake, MI) have announced a collaborative partnership. The alliance was revealed today by Sterling owner Cade Wilson and Chief Offshore owner Ben Wiersum, a highly regarded engine builder and lead technician.

Wilson, who brings a robust background in systems engineering from General Motors and aerospace experience with Rocketdyne, acquired Sterling Engines in mid-2025 and has focused on scaling operations while maintaining top-tier quality.

Wiersum, known for his precision work and customer-focused approach at Chief, complements that expertise perfectly. "I'm super excited to bring some amazing news," said Wilson. "Two of the biggest players in the offshore powerboat industry, Sterling Engines and Chief Offshore, are partnering up. We're doing it for a number of great reasons that Ben describes as a win-win-win for our customers."

Wiersum echoed that sentiment, framing the deal in straightforward terms: "It's a win-win-win because first, it's good for Sterling. They're going to do some more engines. Second, it's good for Chief, because we'll do a few less. We'll still do engines, but we can lighten the workload to help us focus on emergency jobs or super technical stuff that we're tuning as we're getting rigging done. And the most important win is for the customer, who will end up with a higher-quality product at the end of the day and better service."

The partnership leverages each company's strengths. Sterling specializes in high-volume rebuilds, upgrades, and custom engines for marine, automotive, and racing applications, including preferred rebuilding work on marinized Viper engines. Chief Offshore brings deep rigging knowledge and a reputation for handling complex, high-performance builds, and is renowned for its engine dyno and tuning work, offering a unique upgrade package to the Mercury Racing 700 SCi.

"I became aware that Chief was facing time constraints and availability of skilled labor, and needed help managing peak-season workload," Wilson told Speedboat. "I decided to take a chance and reach out to them, even though they're a competitor. I suggested that Sterling might be able to help get some stuff delivered." What started with a single Viper motor has evolved into a broader collaboration.

Under the new model, Sterling will handle more basic rebuilds and production-scale work, allowing Chief to concentrate on custom creations, emergency repairs, and high-end projects. "There's nobody better than an engine builder to be a rigger," Wilson said. "The person who's going to best understand how to fine-tune those tweaks and details. We can share some IP back and forth so our total product gets better. Sterling is still doing big race power and customs, and we’re each still going to have our own high-end work; I will just pick up the 70-80% that is stock or stock plus."

Customers stand to gain the most. Turnaround times that once stretched a year or more should shrink dramatically to a matter of months. Combined inventories and shared product knowledge will speed up parts availability. "Instead of fighting over the slice, let's grow the size of the pie," Wilson said, drawing on his process-improvement expertise. "The industry has been struggling for a number of years. Collaborative systems are the only ones I've seen work."

Wiersum's team will prioritize urgent on-water situations—rushing to help stranded boaters—while Sterling focuses on planned, long-lead projects. Both companies will continue building engines, but with clearer specialization. "It's kind of like a dealer partnership," Wilson added. "They are the representative to the customer, and we're supplying them the motors behind the scenes. No money has changed hands—it's all about making sense for everyone involved."

The announcement comes as Wilson ramps up his own presence in offshore racing. Along with partner Michael Howe of the popular Howe2Live YouTube channel, he co-pilots the Howe2Live Offshore Racing team in the competitive Super Cat class. Wilson drives while Howe serves as throttleman, with the campaign launching this season.

This partnership signals a refreshing shift toward collaboration in an industry often marked by fierce competition. By combining forces, Sterling Engines and Chief Offshore aim to deliver faster service, superior quality, and more reliable power for everything from pleasure boats to championship race craft. The offshore community—racers, recreational boaters, and riggers alike—will be the ultimate winners.

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