brand new member with a question regarding Parker boats

[tomsden]

Hello, I am looking to purchase a 2005, 2520XL with single 225 Yamaha 4 stroke- to use primarily as a dive boat in Great Lakes and Florida. The price seems OK-maybe to OK. My two concerns about this boat being the right choice for me is that it is not a Deep V, AND the motor is not on a bracket, therefore I am concerned about following seas, diver entry/dive ladder (using double tanks), motor noise, lost space. Is that why this boat is about 15K less than comparable models with bracket mounted motors? Would this configuration still be OK for my intended uses? About what kind of gas mileage should I expect from this configuration crusing at around 20 Knots with 4 people onboard? I would greatly appreciate feedback from experienced Parker owners. Thanks, Tom from Michigan

 

[Sully]

I have a 2003 2120 SC
I would have got the 23 then if it was the new design full transom
I love my boat 90% of the time
I dive of the boat about 80% of the time and fish 20%
When I have 2 people in the boat to dive or fish boats a 100%
When I have 3 people in the boat fishing boats a 100%
When I have 3 people diving have some water rolling in the notched transom boats a 90%
When there is 4 or more diving the back is getting 1 to 3 inches splashing in regularly Boats a 70% happy index
I have a reinforced step ladder with stainless works good doubles and all
But If I where to do over I would with out question get the full transom and motor on bracket
Especially if you dive
Also the modified V is more stable at anchor as a platform but you pay for it in a chop I would get the Deep V
25 ft boat will give you enough stability for diving anyway

 

[tomsden]

Thanks for the input, makes total sense to me. Guess I need to decide whether or not spending 30 VS 45 is worth the added benifits. Thanks again
any other thoughts out there?
Tom

 

[WAJSKI]

I nave a 2320sl, great boat full transom motor bracket. I personaly would not own open back boat of any kind. I had a 23' cc with open back had a 10" board in front of motor still got water on a following sea. Now to the swim ladder I have a 4 step t ladder I bought with the boat. The ladder works great, if the boat is bouncing due to waves the 4th step is the only way to go(it is a dive ladder). Hold out for what you want you won't regret it.jm2c I BOAT ON lake erie welcome to the site

 

[miky2884]

I also have a 2320 with a bracket. I knew when i was looking for this boat that i did not want the notched transom. And im glad i found the one I wanted, i would not go back to a notch transom hull again. just my .02

 

[got_em_on]

I have 2005 Parker 2520XL and engines are on a bracket-I don't think the XL was made with a notched transom, but I could be wrong.

If the one you are looking at is an XL it should have 4 seats in the cabin, 173 gal fuel capacity, bi-fold door to enter the v-berth and typically full transom with fish box.

When we were shopping for a boat many parker's were advertised as the XL, even by brokers, but were actually SL models. SL's are typically lower priced then the XL's and these were some of the visual cues we could pick out in the pictures before we got too excited about the price.

 

[tomsden]

Thanks for all the imformation, this has helped me a great deal in my shopping.
Tom

 

[tomsden]

Thanks for all the imformation, this has helped me a great deal in my shopping.
Tom

 

[pmeggers]

I wouldnt go back to a notched transom either. The bracket makes reversing and overall docking a little bit more challenging, but the boat will ride better and the boat will feel roomier with it. On my 23SE, in rough seas, when fighting a fish, water would sometimes come over the the back. While I did not mind, being enclosed does make a positive difference.

 

[Killin Time II]

This is my first post. I bought my 2520 SCMV new in 2003. It has the 128 gallon tank since it has a modified vee. When I shopped back then, I compared the fuel economy on the Yamaha site between the four stroke 225 and the twin four stroke 115. The data showed them about equal. I have the twin F115. My fuel economy averages 2.0 mpg when I fill up after each trip. If seas are rough (3-4ft) it might be a little less. At about 25 knots, my flowmeter shows about 2.4 mpg. I like the modified vee because it planes out at a lower speed and can get by with the twin F115. I have the transom bracket and love it. I had a 1987 notched transom Grady with twins and hated it. Waves always came in the back. I do a lot of drift fishing and it doesn't roll as much as the Grady did. I used to fish Port Canaveral and the Keys but 5 years ago I moved to TX. As far as TX waters go, it seems rough most of the time and the modified vee is a disadvantage. I don't want to go out in 4 ft seas with a 6 second wave period anyway though for 30 miles. The Keys spoiled me to ideal boating conditions. I could not ask for a better diving / snorkeling boat. My boat has removable tank racks for 10 tanks. It is twice the boat my Grady ever was. Mine is not the XL version. I have about 2 feet less cabin and 2 ft more deck, I think. Mine is also the open backed version. I could not take the heat in the Keys with a back door and no A/C. I have never regretted the open back.
Thanks for sparking my interest in talking Parkers again! Maybe I gave you some insight in my experience that could help.
Don Gates
Killin' Time II

 

[tomsden]

Thanks for the input all, after careful consideration i have decided to drive to east coast this weekend. If boat checks out ok when I see it and take her out, i will come home with her. Been eyeing Parkers for a long time, hope to get many years of pleasure from her. 2005 2520xl 225 yam without braket-we'll see
Tom

 

[kurciviez123]

hey. i have a 2001 2520 dvsc... twin 150 yamahas.. i have 1 armstrong 4 step attached to my little factory dive platform. i have dived 2 years off this rig. love it! no problems anywhere. i dive doubles...no problem, i dive singles, no problem. I can make do with anything i am given. i had 12 roll control stations on board, 2 lounge seats, and 2 big coolers set up in back. deck is wide open. 4 divers with gear in the back, 2 up front in the pilot house, no problem.they sit on the coolers to gear up and roll over the sides. set up some gear clips aft . i just removed the passenger seat in the pilot house. i am setting that uo aft/midship. as a set up table and a leaning post. also adding a couple roll contols to that for and aft, leaving the sides clear so passage is problem free and setup will be done there then roll over the side. ill take a couple pics in the spring of the new setup. my pics of my boat are in the introduce yourself section. its a sweet setup. i store the ladder inside. plenty of room on a parker. in the bigginning i was worried about a big platform....your getting out, its easier to help someone out in a isolated area. i was always worried about that big flat swim platform braining someone! definitly get a 4 step ladder!

 

[got_em_on]

Was the boat a 2520XL or was it 2520SL?

 

[tomsden]

The boat is a 2520 SL. Kinda wanted the larger pilot house with side by side front seats plus two bench seats behind them in order to seat four people, rather than the helm seat with the bench seat on the port side. On the plus side, I like the wide opening to the cuddy with just the curtain-seems to make access easier and makes it feel like one common area. Plus I get more deck space with the smaller cabin.
In regards to the transom mounted motor, I purposely backed into 4' waves with some throttle, and yes some water sloshed over and ran right back out, I guess I can live with that.
So I purchased it, and am looking forward to spring. I think it will be very functional for my uses and i like the low maintiance aspects of the boat. Other than some standard fine tuning things i want to do to it, proably the biggest thing I would like to do is to remove the port side bench seat and replace it with a good quality helm type seat for the second passenger. I am thinking that wouln't be to difficult of an undertaking.
Tom

 

[got_em_on]

Congratulations!