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Still researching boats with wide beams to maximize sq. footage without going too long for the lift/boathouse!
Anybody have any opinions on the Parker 2520 or Parker boats in general? (or recommend any other 25 footers with 9.5 ft beams?)
Do a search. Parker's have pretty much a universally solid reputation for durability and reliability. They are easy to maintain and can take a lot of use without showing wear.
If you have specific questions, feel free to ask.
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Terry Jason 35, Yanmar 370 hp, Lots of fun at a leisurely pace
Thanks...I've done the search and only one other thread came up other than boats for sale. No real specific questions, just looking for general info. and advice.
I seriously considered Parker but found them to be a bit too spartan and I wanted more than a 5 year hull warranty. They have a great reputation as solid boats though. I decided to go with a C-Dory.
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It totally depends on your budget. If you want a boat with full foam injection for unsinkability and ride, creature comforts like insulation, etc etc, there are better boats out there for more money. I considered Parker when I bought mine but decided to go with a new Skagit Orca 24. But if you want a solid, functional fishing boat, they are good for the money (jmho).
Parkers are great boats. i've had two, among others. i love the feel of a boat built with wood. the Parker style boat, in particular the pilot house, is not for everybody. it is definitely for me. my suggestion is that you find someone with a 2520 and go out several times in various sea conditions before deciding. if going offshore get a deep v (21 degree hull).
for example, earlier this week i went fishing out of Jupiter FL on a friend's 31 Island Runner. the seas were an honest 4-6. the boat was absolutely amazing in the head sea. you could not get the boat to pound unless you went airborne. if we had been in my Parker it would have been slow going and pounding in a head sea. however, that being said, once we started fishing, the Island Runner wallowed so much in the big seas that everybody started to turn a little green. that would not have happened in my Parker. on the way back to the inlet in a following sea, the Island Runner wanted to plow and bury the nose into the backs of oncoming waves. again, the Parker would have eaten up the following sea with no issues at all. it is all about trade offs with different hull designs, your expectations, and the type of conditions you intend to boat in.
The short answer is correct. The Parker's full bow and lower deadrise does not make it happy going into a head sea. But, in trade, you get outstanding stability. They sit like a raft.
I am not a fan of wood in boats, but the Parker line is one where it would not make a difference to me. They are very good about making sure all of the wood is encapsulated. I owned a 15 year old Parker 25 that was just beginning to show signs of some delamination in the plywood under the deck. As usual, it started where hatches and fills were cut through the deck and the previous owners did not seal the edges properly.
If tough, simple reliable and built like a brick outhouse is what you are looking for, Parker is a good choice. There have been a couple of recent threads about Judge Boats, which have similar lines and probably merit a look as well.
Good buddy has a 25' Parker. Always wanted to get out the tape measure, the thing just feels much bigger. Cockpit is huge. Driven properly, it will eat up 1-2' chop and is always very stable.
I have a boat with a very similar layout, the beam is 9' 3"s. To accommodate such a cockpit the helm is way up near the bow. Which make the ride into a head sea suffer. Mine will fish four people easily. If I made long runs of 40 plus miles I would not own this boat, but I don't. It is a fishing machine, no frills, nothing fancy. I live in the northeast and in my opinion you can't beat a pilothouse with heat in early spring and fall.
wellv20 - 11/27/2008 7:37 AM
If I made long runs of 40 plus miles I would not own this boat, but I don't..
On the contrary, I fish almost exclusively offshore south of block/montauk and I am routinely out 30-100 miles. I do have the DV model, but once you learn how to drive the boat in tougher conditions you can controll the ride to a great extent. Of course there are some conditions where you wish you weren't out there, but when I'm feeling it, so are all the other boats.
Do I miss anything? Of course. Hot coffee and hot food would be nice when drifting in the middle of the night. Heat would be nice, but at least you can duck into the cabin/helm area to get out of the wind. A head would be nice. And being able to sleep more than 2 people without using the cockpit would be nice.
10 more feet would be very nice. But this boat is a workhorse and does more than I should ask of it.
Parker makes some great boats. I have fished off the 25 a couple times. Similar in construction/ease of maintenance is MayCraft, Jones Brothers, Judge. I would check these as well.
Parker boat opinions? (ie. 2520) 
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