Need help from Parker Owners

[Reelhookedup]

Hi Folks, My name is Sean Brown I run a fishing charter buisness on the Finger Lakes of NY. I am going to get a new boat and I am down to the 2320 SL Sport Cabin. I trailer my boat to all the lakes I fish so I cant go much bigger than the 23. I dont want to have to buy another boat for years so I need to get the right one the first time. I dont have any dealers close to me but I have been talking to Nathan at All Seasons Marine Works in CT. He seems like a good guy to deal with. Well any advise would be appreciated. I also need a good trailer that can take alot of miles. Thanks Sean

 

[Catfish]

Sean

Call Warren Nowlan at Mid Atlantic Marine. 1-804-333-3379 He was really good to work with and follow up on the 20 hour service and small issues. www.midatlanticboats.com Also he is the owner, no salesman to deal with, when you ask a question he doesnt have to go get a answer. They are a EZ Loader/LoadRite dealer.

Good Luck
Catfish

 

[Reelhookedup]

Thanks Guys, I have a 2005 Alumacraft to part with, I got to look over the only Parker we have on our lakes this year, and it looked like the way to go. How about adding a kicker any problems I need to know about?

 

[Reelhookedup]

One more question. In the photos of the 2320 from the parker site it looks like a chair of some sort in the entrance of the Forward Cabin, am I correct. Also have any of you extended out the pilot house with a canvas package to give your self some more protection from the sun?

Thanks for the help Sean

 

[MaxOut]

No problem to add a kicker, some Parkers w/Armstrong brackets have kicker bracket made in. Others have predrilled holes you can attach Armstrong kicker bracket to.

IMO, no need for kicker w/modern 4-s outboards. Mine idles literally for hours at a time w/o a hic-cup. The gas you save will never pay for kicker (around $2600).

It may not be a fuel issue as much as a safety issue. Two is allways better than one when it comes to safety. If I continue to fish off shore I will consider another boat with twins or a kicker.

 

[WCS]

"In the photos of the 2320 from the parker site it looks like a chair of some sort in the entrance of the Forward Cabin, am I correct."

The 2320 has a bench seat facing starboard on the port side of the pilot house. Forward is the v-berth with removable center cushions for the portapotty. Under the bench seat are two storage areas, one with drawers for little tackle boxes, the other open. There is some storage space behind the bench as well. The pilot house is not well set up for neat rod storage, but they're in the rocket launchers or in use when you're on the boat.

 

[tommyr904]

I have a kicker for when i troll,8 hour's of trolling is 8 un needed hour's on my F250

 

[pelagic2530]

It may not be a fuel issue as much as a safety issue. Two is allways better than one when it comes to safety. I quote]

I gotta ask, "what will a 10hp kicker protect you from?"

i suppose, in calm conditions, it could be used as a verrrrry slow alternate propulsion system in case the main engine conks out. if it was me, i would either go for a) twins, or at the very least a 25 horse kicker. just a little more thrust for the size.

 

[MaxOut]

It may not be a fuel issue as much as a safety issue. Two is allways better than one when it comes to safety. I quote]

I gotta ask, "what will a 10hp kicker protect you from?"

Is that a serious question? :? I’m gluten for punishment so I will answer it. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

First I would suggest a 25hp. separate battery and fuel tank. Preferably a pull start option as well.

Have you ever lost power in ruff seas? A kicker could keep you into the waves and maintain maneuverability so you do not capsize or crash into rocks etc. Not to mention just get you home verses drifting away at sea. I know you are going to say "I would call for a tow" well electronics don’t work when your batteries go dead and you are out of cell phone range.

No matter how well you maintain your motor and fuel system you can still have a problem like hitting something in the water that takes you lower unit out or a battery loosing a cell. Some things just happen and cannot predict. That’s why two is always better. Two Batteries (or More), two fuel tanks, two motors, two vhf radios, two propellers etc..

I know allot of people disagree on some issues like roller trailer or not, rear station or not but I think this is the first time I have seen someone disagree that a kicker offers no protection. You may not want or need one but it's hard to convince someone you wouldn't be safer with one.

I think you really want a rear station and a kicker on your boat and trying to convince yourself you don't through this forum :lol: Reverse psychology :wink: I hope you get both for Christmas!!

 

[dave-j]

Unless you have a redundant fuel and electronics system on board, the odds that the kicker will work when your other engine doesn't is about one in three.

Additionally, when it's snotty out, it's hard to believe that even a 25HP will help keep your nose into the wind and waves. A drogue is probably the better solution.

Kickers are great for trolling, but don't kid yourself that it is a real safety option.

 

[Reelhookedup]

Thanks guys, I have a kicker from my boat I am selling do any of you have an auto pilot hooked to your kicker? I use a kicker due to the fact I troll from March to Nov so it keeps hundreds of hours off my big motor.

Thanks Sean

 

[MaxOut]

Unless you have a redundant fuel and electronics system on board, the odds that the kicker will work when your other engine doesn't is about one in three.

Additionally, when it's snotty out, it's hard to believe that even a 25HP will help keep your nose into the wind and waves. A drogue is probably the better solution.

Kickers are great for trolling, but don't kid yourself that it is a real safety option.

I came in on a 15HP kicker behind a 25' MayCraft Pilot House 75 miles off shore tuna fishing when the main engine over heated. Started back in calm seas on the kicker but ended up in 3'-5' chop the last 5 miles. Had the kicker motor linked to the primary motor and autopiloted all the way to the Rudy mouth. You would be suprised how well a 25HP would move a 23'-25' Parker. You are not going to plane obviously but you will be moving forward in allmost any seas. I call that a very viable safety feature. No kidding and you dont need a battery on a pull start motor.

 

[MaxOut]

"3'-5' chop" is the operative phrase here, seems to be used a lot by Chesapeake Bay fishermen. As best I can tell, phrase has nothing to do w/wave height. :?

I can tell you that I have had the throttle to the console on a 23cc w/200-2s, and could not get up backs of what I would call 5-6 rollers.

An advantage of internet is sharing of info. A disadvantage is sharing of geographically sensitive opinions that are not identified as such.

I hope no one goes offshore w/kicker thinking their safe from even a moderate blow.

oh! a kicker will help provide a larger sonar image during salvage. :lol:

Chop- waves with tight spacing and no consistent direction. Usually occurs with cross winds and when currents are going against the wind. 3'-5' is a reference to actual wave height.

The term is used in the bay areas more because chop is most frequently found in the mouth of a smaller body of water entering a larger one. Or in the case I referred to in-shore when land affects the wind and currents.

Rollers- waves with moderate spacing and consistent direction. More commonly found off-shore or when a predominant wind and current are in the same direction.

I do not disagree that a kicker is in no way a substitute for a primary engine and will still have its limits but I personally was glad we had one when we needed it and it worked flawlessly. Without it there is no telling what would have happened. Imagine a 75 mile tow? I'm sure that would have cost more than the kicker :wink:

You have twin 200's on a 23CC? and couldn't climb a 5' roller @ WOT? I find that hard to believe, but i'll take your word for it. :wink:

 

[Parker23.5]

Hey go to CedarCreekoutdoorman.com and check out his closeout prices scroll down to boat consolidation sale and if anyone buys a boat tell Marvin that Tommy Thomas send you