Hello from Highlands, NJ!
I’ve had my Parker 23cc SE, the Semper Fly, for a little over a year now. Just passed 200 hours. First boat. Figured it would be better to post once I had actually learned something about my boat and all the equipment on her so I could return some of the great information I got from this forum in the months leading up to the purchase and thereafter. Now that I’ve experienced several of the major initial rites of passage in boat ownership, including the disappointment of a water in fuel alarm on very first trip (bad sensor), a painful reminder to take wide turns while towing, the terror of trailering her across the Cross Bronx and GWB en route to Montauk, the "excitement" of almost being run over by a sportfisher, and the fun in backing into a slip in high winds with the full enclosure up, I figure I have some baseline experience to begin repaying the favor. Here is a summary of the major tweaks I’ve made and my general impressions of boat, motor and trailer.
-Birdsall 38” leaning post
-Raymarine E120 plotter
-Raymarine 4kw radar
-Sirius Satellite Weather Radio
-Furuno FCV 585 sounder
-Airmar B164 12 degree thru-hull transducer – cannot kick up and does not lose bottom at any speed.
-37 gallon removable Kodiak livewell w/dedicated 1100 gph pump
-red LED night vision deck lighting
-blue Ocean LED u/w lights
-three AGM group 31 batteries
-Blue Seas ACR
-forward-mounted iflyrod holders
-EZ2CY front windshield and full, removable stratoglass enclosure by Gioia Sails
-Oversize starboard cupholder which doubles as bino holder.
-Loadmaster 22-24 7000# GVWR Tandem Axle Trailer
General Impressions
Boat: Completely satisfied with my choice. This is the ultimate inshore machine, especially if you want an open and uncluttered bow for flyfishing and also ease in single-handed operation. Tough, simple, fuel-efficient and 100% business. Tiny issues were an anchor light which I needed to replace with a more positive-locking unit from Hella, the light-duty bilge hatch cover and the height of the notch….just an inch or so higher would keep water coming in as easily when you stop in following seas, and would also serve to keep engine completely out of water when trimmed up all the way.
Engine: The Yamaha 225 hp 4-stroke has been solid. Very minor issues included bad water-in-fuel sensor, flimsy flush valve, unreliable speedometer tube and low rpm squealing from drive shaft which is addressable with periodic shots of silicon lubricant.
Trailer: I get most compliments on the trailer rather than the boat. Am a big fan of erring on side of overbuilding the trailer and that’s what this one is. Zero issues.
Favorite customization: 3 AGM batteries plus ACR unit. Despite “Semper Fly” name, I do a lot of livelining / chunking with bunker and often spend hours at a time with pumps running, sounder and radar on but engine off. This setup lets me manage batteries efficiently, prevents electronics from dropping out when starting engine, and allows me to keep 1 battery entirely in reserve as an emergency starter if I ever accidentally run the house battery and primary starter battery down too much. Also, the AGMs hardly discharge at all when just sitting there, even in very hot or very cold weather.
Silly customization: Ocean LED u/w lights. They do attract all sorts of small bait at night. But the only use I really put them to is to make her look like a rocket ship, and to show off to the other boats in my marina especially as all of them are bigger than mine.
Cleaning regimen: Zaino Z-7 as boat wash on everything, Zaino AIO + Z-5 every few months as long-term protection for hull and topsides, Softscrub for non-skid, 10:1 diluted bleach for organic stains wherever.
Schrader Yachts sales and service has been impeccable. Pat Barry and his guys are fantastic.
Sorry for low quality of photos; site won't let me upload greater than 60k for some reason. Would be happy to discuss any of the above, and thanks again.
I’ve had my Parker 23cc SE, the Semper Fly, for a little over a year now. Just passed 200 hours. First boat. Figured it would be better to post once I had actually learned something about my boat and all the equipment on her so I could return some of the great information I got from this forum in the months leading up to the purchase and thereafter. Now that I’ve experienced several of the major initial rites of passage in boat ownership, including the disappointment of a water in fuel alarm on very first trip (bad sensor), a painful reminder to take wide turns while towing, the terror of trailering her across the Cross Bronx and GWB en route to Montauk, the "excitement" of almost being run over by a sportfisher, and the fun in backing into a slip in high winds with the full enclosure up, I figure I have some baseline experience to begin repaying the favor. Here is a summary of the major tweaks I’ve made and my general impressions of boat, motor and trailer.
-Birdsall 38” leaning post
-Raymarine E120 plotter
-Raymarine 4kw radar
-Sirius Satellite Weather Radio
-Furuno FCV 585 sounder
-Airmar B164 12 degree thru-hull transducer – cannot kick up and does not lose bottom at any speed.
-37 gallon removable Kodiak livewell w/dedicated 1100 gph pump
-red LED night vision deck lighting
-blue Ocean LED u/w lights
-three AGM group 31 batteries
-Blue Seas ACR
-forward-mounted iflyrod holders
-EZ2CY front windshield and full, removable stratoglass enclosure by Gioia Sails
-Oversize starboard cupholder which doubles as bino holder.
-Loadmaster 22-24 7000# GVWR Tandem Axle Trailer
General Impressions
Boat: Completely satisfied with my choice. This is the ultimate inshore machine, especially if you want an open and uncluttered bow for flyfishing and also ease in single-handed operation. Tough, simple, fuel-efficient and 100% business. Tiny issues were an anchor light which I needed to replace with a more positive-locking unit from Hella, the light-duty bilge hatch cover and the height of the notch….just an inch or so higher would keep water coming in as easily when you stop in following seas, and would also serve to keep engine completely out of water when trimmed up all the way.
Engine: The Yamaha 225 hp 4-stroke has been solid. Very minor issues included bad water-in-fuel sensor, flimsy flush valve, unreliable speedometer tube and low rpm squealing from drive shaft which is addressable with periodic shots of silicon lubricant.
Trailer: I get most compliments on the trailer rather than the boat. Am a big fan of erring on side of overbuilding the trailer and that’s what this one is. Zero issues.
Favorite customization: 3 AGM batteries plus ACR unit. Despite “Semper Fly” name, I do a lot of livelining / chunking with bunker and often spend hours at a time with pumps running, sounder and radar on but engine off. This setup lets me manage batteries efficiently, prevents electronics from dropping out when starting engine, and allows me to keep 1 battery entirely in reserve as an emergency starter if I ever accidentally run the house battery and primary starter battery down too much. Also, the AGMs hardly discharge at all when just sitting there, even in very hot or very cold weather.
Silly customization: Ocean LED u/w lights. They do attract all sorts of small bait at night. But the only use I really put them to is to make her look like a rocket ship, and to show off to the other boats in my marina especially as all of them are bigger than mine.
Cleaning regimen: Zaino Z-7 as boat wash on everything, Zaino AIO + Z-5 every few months as long-term protection for hull and topsides, Softscrub for non-skid, 10:1 diluted bleach for organic stains wherever.
Schrader Yachts sales and service has been impeccable. Pat Barry and his guys are fantastic.
Sorry for low quality of photos; site won't let me upload greater than 60k for some reason. Would be happy to discuss any of the above, and thanks again.
