OK, so I am looking to purchase my first boat (a Parker, of course). But the mental dilemma that is going on in my head is unfathomable and I have hit a mexican standoff with myself lol. In a nutshell I'm stuck between the 2520 XL, the 2530 extended cabin, and the 2830 extended cabin. I've asked some questions around the site before, but mostly I just sit here for hours and get lost in the projects section as I add to the list of things I'll have to do to my Parker someday. Basically I'm just looking for some input, opinions, bad / good experiences, etc...If this next bit helps: The tough part for me is deciding which length (25 or 28) I want because both extended cabins are proportional to their size. Anyway, thats it for now I guess, let me know what you think.
Looking to buy! But questions first..
- Thread starter cadet7924
- Start date
Help Support Classic Parker Boat Forum:
Bryan 2530
Well-known member
What are your plans for the boat? Location? Sea conditions?
New, used?
I say 2530 but I am biased. 8)
A little more info would help us help you.
New, used?
I say 2530 but I am biased. 8)
A little more info would help us help you.
sparky
Well-known member
Bryan 2530":wxyiw0va said:
You forgot a big one: Price. What's your budget? 2830's are a whole lot more rare and a lot more $$ than a 2520XL.
Smittles1179
Well-known member
Excellent; I also day dream of my future parker. It is the photo's I view (from this site) everyday that I use when I lay my head on the pillow at night...I wonder what would be best: the 2520dv or 2530dv (They don't yet have a 2830 from what I understand so that is eliminated from my dreams. I ask myself what I would do on the boat. (Kick around the bay? go offshore? visit waterfront restaurants?) How many people I would take fishing? I often think it will be me and the dog mostly. So space and seating isn't really needed. (2530 with just seating, I bet I could have 6 friends) I feel like I would enjoy a hot cup of coffee or warm food on a cold day. This makes me think the 2530 would be good with the galley and table; with two captains’ chairs me and a buddy would be good all day. Most of the guys I fish with only like to spend 3 to 4 hours out on the water. Me...HA... I can spend all day and night on the water. (I have a 14 ft tracker Jon boat and I do exactly that; all day and night) So the question you ask is a very personal one I think. You have to know how you will use the boat. It makes no sense to me to have seating for 6 people when it’s just 2 or 3 people going out. Also the cockpit space on the 2520 is Hugh, but the 2530 looks smaller. If you have friends fishing with you then the 2520 gives that extra cockpit space. Me and the dog only need a limited amount of space in the cockpit and more room in the pilothouse so the 2530 sounds good. Price is an important factor also; I have not seen the price difference between the 2520 and 2530 that might make me lean one way over the other. As it stands now I think the 2530 would better fit my needs. But I’m a couple years away…I am here to read and learn and download pictures so I can daydream at work. (Speaking of that; someone with a parker should be making YouTube videos so I can dream in HD video and not just still pictures.) Anyway, good luck with your decision. It’s a hard one to make.
Smittles.
Smittles.
Bryan 2530
Well-known member
Smittles1179
Well-known member
Yes, True. Got me there. But then they stopped making them for some reason is what I understood. If anyone has a 2005 thru 2010 please correct me. They have been talking about making them for a couple years. When I emailed Robin and asked, she told me that even she has not seen the inside of the new 2830 so she could not supply photo's as of yet. Sure they have it listed on the website, but I don't think you can get it yet. I may be wrong I haven't spoken to anyone at Parker for 3 months or so... I was looking for info on the 2830 and prices, so I could figure out what I can afford. But your right, if you look hard enough you can find them. 
I know price tag is definatly going to be a deciding factor, but I can work my way around that somehow, I'll worry about that part later lol I dont like to think about it. I didnt want to overwhelm anyone with that first post so here it goes:
It's going to be a fishing boat (for the most part - they look easy to keep clean for when the wife is around) in the newburyport area, alot of offshore, probably very little up river depending on where I can find a slip, but in and out of the merrimack river mouth all the time should put some nice wear and tear on it. I can spend all day on the water too, which isnt a problem for me and the buddies, but I can imagine that being close quartered for a half day or however long could get annoying, so I guess Im basically looking for a decent amount of space in the cabin (I go out in the rain and the cold alot, its nice to be inside when underway), and a decent amount of deck space. by the way, how much of a pain in the rear is it to get up to the bow if i wanted to stick someone out there to drop a line? anybody feel unsafe to sit or stand up there? If i send my son up there will I wind up having to go swimming for him? thats the real question haha. I feel like I'm forgetting things...as far as that goes anyway. So I guess space is my factor because I could have atleast 4 people fishing, but what about sitting in slip or just cruising the river, Im wondering how many people I can fit without being elbow to elbow..
I wont go into the whole wishlist just yet, but I feel that this next bit is important - Tuna tower is close to the top of the list, I dont know if that is a deciding factor on which size I'm looking at or not
It's going to be a fishing boat (for the most part - they look easy to keep clean for when the wife is around) in the newburyport area, alot of offshore, probably very little up river depending on where I can find a slip, but in and out of the merrimack river mouth all the time should put some nice wear and tear on it. I can spend all day on the water too, which isnt a problem for me and the buddies, but I can imagine that being close quartered for a half day or however long could get annoying, so I guess Im basically looking for a decent amount of space in the cabin (I go out in the rain and the cold alot, its nice to be inside when underway), and a decent amount of deck space. by the way, how much of a pain in the rear is it to get up to the bow if i wanted to stick someone out there to drop a line? anybody feel unsafe to sit or stand up there? If i send my son up there will I wind up having to go swimming for him? thats the real question haha. I feel like I'm forgetting things...as far as that goes anyway. So I guess space is my factor because I could have atleast 4 people fishing, but what about sitting in slip or just cruising the river, Im wondering how many people I can fit without being elbow to elbow..
I wont go into the whole wishlist just yet, but I feel that this next bit is important - Tuna tower is close to the top of the list, I dont know if that is a deciding factor on which size I'm looking at or not
sparky
Well-known member
cadet7924":2x00df8z said:
I'd start thinking about it.
I just realized that sounded kinda weird, didnt catch that as I typed it..yes price will matter basically because I want to add the fun stuff, but regardless I should have it covered, I've saved up over the past couple years basically being a workaholic lol. But anyday on the water is a good day (I run tugs in Boston Harbor). But yes price is a question I have, Ive asked around, but does anybody have a rough idea on prices??
cadet7924":4y5mvswz said:
Pricing is regional and is set by the local dealers for new boats.
West coast prices tend to be higher than east coast, and they can vary north to south depending on demand and popularity.
Best advice I can give is to find your local dealer and have a price conversation with them.
That is really the only way to do it on new stock.
On the used market, Google is your friend.
Uncle Matt
Well-known member
I just saw a picture of a 2830 on Boat Trader. Says they are taking orders. Check it out.
javascript:window.oPhotoViewer.showLargeImage('http://images.traderonline.com//img/6/dealer/791867//98094310_1thumb_550x410.jpg',0);
javascript:window.oPhotoViewer.showLargeImage('http://images.traderonline.com//img/6/dealer/791867//98094310_1thumb_550x410.jpg',0);
Bryan 2530
Well-known member
cadet7924":1tdayh8o said:
New or Old style??
Smittles1179
Well-known member
I went to the boat show this Sunday. This was my second show this year. Seeing the Parker boats in person has helped me decide which one I would like. I kept thinking about being able to trailer the boat every weekend because I felt it gave me better control over my property. I could sit on it during the workweek, tweak it in my back yard, be able to wash it down after each use and not have to paint the bottom. But the 2120 has the cut out in the transom which I hate. The 2320 has a small vberth and a curtain and only sits 2 maybe 3 in the pilot house. At least the 2520 give you four seats in the pilot house and a vberth a six foot tall guy can sit up in, and lay down in without his feet hanging over the edge. Plus the vberth has the hard door and electric pump head option. The cockpit on the 2520 blows away the space on the 2120 - I only wish they had a 2530 at the show. I have never seen one of these and it interests me. Although the more people i talk with, the more say they have never used the sink or counter space in the galley area and wished they went with more seating option instead. This means it's a 2520 xld for me. Now all I have to do is a cost breakdown including all the electronics, rigs and slip costs per year and present this data to my Wife for final approval. No 2011 model for me this year, I can only hope 2012 is my year to join the family.
