Parker Boats

mjsiega

New member
Anyone know of or ever had a Parker boat? They seem to have a nice Pilot house in 21 feet (Parker 2120 Sport Cabin) The cockpit is kind of 'biggish' with a 'smallish' cabin, but it looks like a nice clean simple design. They seem unique in their construction, solid glass hull, wood stringers and transom, something strongly admonished by most boat builders. Interested if anyone has an opinion on these boats, thanks.

-Mark
 
Nice looking boats but more money than a c-dory. Mostly a day fishing boat. Not much in the cabin for an overnight or cruising boat.

I hear they ride great and are a standard on the right coast. I don’t see too many out here, just a few. I like that they have a inboard option as well as out boards
.
 
I too like the Parkers and have cruised on them before. I did not care for the spartan interior (funny coming from a C-Dory owner!) and it would be much less comfortable for an overnight. They do offer good cockpit space for the size though. I preferred the creature comforts on the C-Dory.

I went diving off one a few years ago. This one had the same cockpit to cabin crack that we have with our C-Dory's, but this one fell off a trailer while going around a rotary.
 
Great east coast fishing boat, very solid, very heavy, high quality gas hogs. An absolute fishing machine. Not a cruiser, much more a great day boat. Very different than a C-Dory. I love the cockpit space.
 
Tough boats; one of my neighbors went through 3 outboards in about 6 years, running his Parker every day--The only negitative I have heard is that they are a bit rougher ride than many of the deeper V's-=but again smoother than a C Dory. Use a bit more fuel than the C Dory. Good fishing boats.
 
I have one
It is 2320 Extended Cabin with Yam 225 4 stroke on a transom bracket with 9.9 Yam kicker and 17" ss prop on the main. It has an open back (no hard door) wiht curtain back with windows, sink with fresh water shower hose, fresh water tank, refrigerator, the table converts to bed, one in the deck fish box, raw water wash down pump, 140 gal fuel tank, windlass, autopilot, 4 batteries with 2 Siemens solar panels connected to 2 Perko switches, dive ladder, Racor filter, bottom paint, cockpit canopy, no trailer and a transom door. It is a 1994 and I am the third owner, and I found a motivated seller and it was close to the FL home. We piloted it home on ICW and spend the night on the hook watching sharks in Lemon Bay.

The only issues to date (except not enough time using it) were older GPS (not working)/ FF (inaccurate) combo unit (replaced with Garmin 545S), fuel pickup issues still unresolved. I think there might be AL cap seals from fuel additives and stabilizer in the tank causing fuel starvation issues at high speeds, and maybe the tilt indicator assembly (looks like a poor design to me) on the motor is bad or needs lubed b/c the tilt gauge does not work. We have davit lifts and spent some time working out limiting details and installing boat stands. It does not lift off the stands so we take them apart. Will make some changes to keep the stands together (WIP)

I think the wet weight is 4900 lbs, it runs well and so quiet, and dry.

We looked at C-Dorys, Tugs and TomCats but the Parker caught our eye and it was easy on the pocket book and didnt need a boat loan
 
Brent,

I am curious about your fuel consumption. Do you have any data?
I have ridden on the Parker 2520's many times in SE Alaska. They are the roomiest Pilothouse fishing boats that I have ever fished on.

Jim
 
Jim

I dont have any accurate data to date b/c I bought it on June 30 and still outfitting it and lots of mixed boating.
The first fueling was 85 gals.
You can check the Classic Parker site at
http://classicparker.com/
It is like the C Brats site with every question being answered and many very knowledgeable Parker owners, boaters and fishermen online. It is my online Parker owner's manual.
You can also email Parker corporate center. Robin or Eric, one of engineers with questions and comments.
The 2520 cabin is huge and a very popular model. They have the same discussion between the models just like we do with C-Dory models. They have 28' and 34' models, too.
They are setup for fishing with large cockpits and functional cabins but a different boat than a C-Dory but share the same attributes, the owners are passionate about their boats, helping others and living their lives
 
I had looked at Parker boats years ago I had looked at the 25 extended cabin Back in the 90's you could get some of their boats with different deadrise 15degrees and 21 degrees depending on your needs .Down here in SW Fl. the Police and Fire dept use the 21 center console parkers with single 225 mercs.The Parker boats seem to be very spartan even to c-brat owners also they are very pricey and seem to drink more gas than our c-dory's .If you like the Parkers go check out the Steiger boats from NY .
 
Parker's tradition is for fishing coastal and ocean areas.
Parker is still owned by the Parker family.
Parker's are built and powered differently,and is a v-hull.
My Parker has 2002 Yam 225 hp fuel injected 4 stroke OB and I cant compare it to a CD 22 or 25 b/c Parker boats are heavier and other factors.
I estimate the fuel burn a little over 2 mpg in the low 4000 rpms. This was a not controlled data set neither. We were just out boating and fishing, and has plenty of gas onboard. I just glanced at fuel management system andThe Admiral was standing by for her turn at the helm

C Dory does not make 23' model. Mine is 28'2" in length
b/c of the bow pulpit and transom bracket

Go to Parker site to see the built process.
I have not compared prices on new boats between the two companies in today's market.
Patty and I bought an older boat together, too. It is our boat not mine or hers

Here are some pictures taken a Classic Parker member visiting
the factory
http://www.classicparker.com/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=6454
The factory is spotless!

I like both C-Dory and Parker boats but bought this Parker b/c it suited our boating needs and current lifestyle.
I dont consider our boat to be spartan. It has freshwater system and a sink with a handheld shower handpiece, all of the deck items are through bolted with backing plates. It sleeps 3 so far and we are tall. I am 6'4 and and Patty is 5'11"
The berth can sleep 3 with the added the wedge and cushions
It has a table and porti potty. It does not a builtin stove but we have 2 burner alcohol stove and lots of storage
I have some pictures online if you wish to view them
We love it
 
Jim Garner":4n1yd8kq said:
Brent,

I am curious about your fuel consumption. Do you have any data?
I have ridden on the Parker 2520's many times in SE Alaska. They are the roomiest Pilothouse fishing boats that I have ever fished on.

Jim

Jim

We found a great deal on Parker 2520 located in KY. The owner relocated from NJ and it had a Yam 225 OB and a new trailer.
Sadly it was too long for our davit lifts b/c the OB on a transom bracket and pulpit
 
Brent

When I said they were spartan, I meant that as a good thing. I bought a 23 venture for cruising. When I was looking, the Parker 2320 was right at the top of my list. I asked the factory about something like I expect a 2330 would be. They said "no".
 
dave":3d29214m said:
Brent

When I said they were spartan, I meant that as a good thing. I bought a 23 venture for cruising. When I was looking, the Parker 2320 was right at the top of my list. I asked the factory about something like I expect a 2330 would be. They said "no".

I understand and many owners makes mods and updates just like C-Brats except a lot of C Brats cruise and travel in their boats which adds a new dimension, and I dont why our model wasnt called a 2330.
I use spartan at work when we buy a microscope one year (a spartan scope) and the next FY spend the same amount of accessories and software ( a fully blown high end scope)


I emailed Robin at the factory for the wiring diagram and looking at it now and since I dont have dealer close by, they sell parts and other items direct. I would like to have some gel coat onhand

The one CP member just posted that White Water Marine n NY has a 2007 2820 with twin 250'2 4x outriggers and a nice set up for 75-78 K. Nice fishing boat to go off shore to canyons or up and down coast. These guys fish!
 
Not a Parker, but one of the reasons I bought a sweet Rosborough RF-246 was the fact that they are "over built", thick everywhere, real rub rail, and their "work boat" tuffness and sweet sweet ride. Now, mix with that the original attraction to them was the big ol cockpit. About 9.5' fore/aft and full beam wide. Then, no "transom box" for the outboards, but, a 27" full power hull extension....which then gives you all the cockpit to do with as you wish. Several of our C-Brats have been on this boat and at many times we have 6+ folks on board all with very comfortable chairs and out of the sun....or, cold as it is today. Enjoyed a great day on the water Tuesday, 20+ mph winds, temps mid 30's..... just a sweet fun warm day on the water with that wallas 30D blowing.... had to turn it down due to the temp getting up in the 70s inside.

Wonderful boat.... not a Parker, not a C-Dory, but, if you are looking for large cockpits, great proven work boat smooth ride.... take a look. Be sure it is a post 1997 hull as they were re-designed that year as for use with the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Police.

Just a thought.
Cumberland_River_Dawn_Fall07.jpg

Byrdman
 
My buddy has a 2330DV with a 2-stroke 225 Merc Verado. They are rare models for sure. The USFS in SE Alaska bought a batch of these for crew boats back in the 90s so there are some around SE Alaska. His was a crew boat and then a charter boat before he got it. I have seen a few others of this model on CL in Alaska with the same Forest Service history.

I love spartan and low frills boats and have always wanted a Parker. This one was a crew boat so had no galley or head etc, just seating and storage and a vee berth. Loads of room for rigging as a cruiser, unlike the Sport Cabin models.

We went on a 5 day trip south out of Juneau last summer. The boat is awesome. Solid, seaworthy, incredible deck space. The one thing I wouldn't want every weekend is the fuel bill or the typical deep vee performance. On our trip we averaged under 2mpg in about 500 miles of mostly decent weather. We were reasonably loaded for cruising but only two people. The best economy (on step) was at about 27 knots with GPH fairly level in the 24-27 range. As with most deep vees, when your seas don't let you do those kinds of speeds you are off-step and/or taking a beating and/or burning a ton of gas. This is not unique to Parker, just comes with that style of craft.

Perhaps the Parker modified vee version is easier on fuel or 4-stroke would obviously help. She is also a bit underpowered with the 225 -- a pair of 150s is what it really needs. They make these with diesels as well but you would not believe the size of the box in the cockpit (about the size of a diesel motor :wink ). It is just shameful to ruin that spacious deck like that :cry

I still love the Parkers and may own one some day but right now my 22CD burn rate and variable speed ability are working. Not to mention my old boat was half the price of his old boat.

harpoon.sized.jpg
 
Back
Top