About Us

Wher-rena Boatland has been Cornelius's most trusted boat dealership since 1966. We attribute this to our top-notch customer service. Our professional sales staff undergoes constant training to ensure they are knowledgeable about our products. Complete customer satisfaction is our primary focus. We believe finding the perfect boat for you is a testament to our success.

Let's work together. Trust is the foundation of our relationship with our individual clients and business partners. Wher-rena Boatland is synonymous with reliability, fairness and experience. Get to know us better!

Our History:

Wher-rena Boatland founder, Norman Junker, started his first business at the age of 13.  He built a small wooden building in his back yard and when finished, towed it out by the road in front of his parents house on Albemarle Rd. between Charlotte and Mint Hill.  It was a Bait and Tackle shop catering to the local fisherman for the areas ponds.  That original tackle shop, built in 1957, now sits inside our showroom, still offering live bait and fishing supplies to area fishermen. 

As time went on, the store grew and expanded.  While in school at Davidson College, Norman was just down the street from Lake Norman as it was being filled.  At this same time, Norman and his siblings inherited some money from their grandparents.  Norman saw great potential for the lake and convinced some of his siblings to build a marina on the newly created lake.

Wher-rena Marina was built on the shores of Lake Norman and opened in the spring of 1966.  It was one of the first marinas, boat dealerships and restaurants on the lake.  The unique name came from the original founders.  Having just inherited some money from their grandparents, our founders named the business after their grandparents, Wherry and Rena Junker.  At the time Wher-rena Marina (pronounced Where Rina) was located where MidTown Sundries was located. 

Each of the original founders had their own areas of the marina that they managed.  Norman Junker ran the boat dealership, Harrell Junker, the restaurant, George Junker, the bar and Bill Irvin the marina, camp ground, arcade and swim area.  Come visit our showroom and check out the pictures of the original marina as well as "The Galley" fish camp, swim area, arcade and camp ground.

In 1987, Norman Junker moved the boat dealership from its original location down the street to our current showroom.  At that time, Wher-rena Boatland was born.  Wher-rena Boatland has continued to cater to area boaters and is one of the oldest dealerships on Lake Norman.

In December 2003, Norman Junker passed away from cancer and his son, Jeff Junker, took over the reins and is still running the dealership today.

Our sales team