Quality and Integrity of Parker Boats

[TunaJoe]

Ya know, I have to agree with Foulhook about the QC.
I have my 2007 Parker 2520XL that was bought new and I absolutely love the boat. Suits my needs to a tee. Great value at the 65K I paid.
But frankly, the quality control is just not there. Lots of things that leave me scratching my head.
Examples:
1. Cabin door doesnt lock. Way out of adjustment. Took me an hour of adjustment to get the tenon to grab a little bit of the door jamb and lock.
2. Gaps on the where the stainless bow rail attach to the deck. Big gaps. Allowing water intrusion.
3. Hatch in V berth to access anchor leaks like crazy.
4. Was out in some big seas this spring and took some water into the windshield and the front starboard window frame leaks. Pretty bad. dribbles down right on top of my electronics.
5. Hatches in cabin out of adjustment. Plus, what's up with those screws that act as a latch and engage the metal clips to keep the hatches closed?
6. Fresh water wash down line leaks at fitting.
7. How about the deck hatches that feel like your going to fall right thru when you step on them? They flex quite a bit.
8. Glue stains bleeding thru on carpet in cabin.
9. Cabin window frames outside that are painted or powder coated is peeling.
These are all things I've got going on with my new boat with 22 hours. Yes, I could drive it to San Diego, a four drive thru LA in horrible traffic and have the dealer correct the minor issues. But not worth it to me. I'll fix it myself.
Again, I love my boat. Not meaning to bash Parker. But it is obvious that there are some QC issues.

 

[96TL]

1. Cabin door doesnt lock. Way out of adjustment. Took me an hour of adjustment to get the tenon to grab a little bit of the door jamb and lock.
2. Gaps on the where the stainless bow rail attach to the deck. Big gaps. Allowing water intrusion.
3. Hatch in V berth to access anchor leaks like crazy.
4. Was out in some big seas this spring and took some water into the windshield and the front starboard window frame leaks. Pretty bad. dribbles down right on top of my electronics.
5. Hatches in cabin out of adjustment. Plus, what's up with those screws that act as a latch and engage the metal clips to keep the hatches closed?
6. Fresh water wash down line leaks at fitting.
7. How about the deck hatches that feel like your going to fall right thru when you step on them? They flex quite a bit.
8. Glue stains bleeding thru on carpet in cabin.
9. Cabin window frames outside that are painted or powder coated is peeling.

All those problems at 22 hours? I'd be seeing a dealer immediately if I was in your position. I have 180+ hours on my 2006 2320 and I don't have any of the problems you mentioned besides the crappy hatches. I already replaced those.

 

[Megabyte]

Foulhook... welcome aboard and thanks for posting.

I hope you'll stick around and become a regular. There are some great folks here who have done some amazing things with their boats, and not all of them are Parkers. We have Steiger, Maycraft, Whaler, Mako, Grady, and others represented... and we pride ourselves in getting along with each other. :wink:

BTW - The "Projects" forum is my favorite. 8)
Check it out.

 

[foulhook]

Foulhook... welcome aboard and thanks for posting.

I hope you'll stick around and become a regular. There are some great folks here who have done some amazing things with their boats, and not all of them are Parkers. We have Steiger, Maycraft, Whaler, Mako, Grady, and others represented... and we pride ourselves in getting along with each other. :wink:

BTW - The "Projects" forum is my favorite. 8)
Check it out.

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for the welcome. Didn't I meet you in Cape Charles a couple years ago? Your in my old stomping ground down there. Mike Benjamin, Walleye Pete, Rich Gaines, Tom Hughes, Chris Newsome, etc. Some great guides down your way. I spend time at the CBBT over the winter. Usually January.

I will stick around. I looked around the site lastnight and was impressed. Glad to hear you guy pride yourselves on getting along. Lots of my buds own Parkers like I said before. We are all LT/Fly guys and get along great.

I hope my post made things a little more clear. The guy that started this had a bit of an axe to grind with me for some reason. Is he a Parker owner?

Thanks again for the welcome Kevin.

Tight lines, Bob

 

[grouperjim]

Ya know, I have to agree with Foulhook about the QC.
I have my 2007 Parker 2520XL that was bought new and I absolutely love the boat. Suits my needs to a tee. Great value at the 65K I paid.
But frankly, the quality control is just not there. Lots of things that leave me scratching my head.
Examples:
1. Cabin door doesnt lock. Way out of adjustment. Took me an hour of adjustment to get the tenon to grab a little bit of the door jamb and lock.
2. Gaps on the where the stainless bow rail attach to the deck. Big gaps. Allowing water intrusion.
3. Hatch in V berth to access anchor leaks like crazy.
4. Was out in some big seas this spring and took some water into the windshield and the front starboard window frame leaks. Pretty bad. dribbles down right on top of my electronics.
5. Hatches in cabin out of adjustment. Plus, what's up with those screws that act as a latch and engage the metal clips to keep the hatches closed?
6. Fresh water wash down line leaks at fitting.
7. How about the deck hatches that feel like your going to fall right thru when you step on them? They flex quite a bit.
8. Glue stains bleeding thru on carpet in cabin.
9. Cabin window frames outside that are painted or powder coated is peeling.
These are all things I've got going on with my new boat with 22 hours. Yes, I could drive it to San Diego, a four drive thru LA in horrible traffic and have the dealer correct the minor issues. But not worth it to me. I'll fix it myself.
Again, I love my boat. Not meaning to bash Parker. But it is obvious that there are some QC issues.

Joe:

sorry for your troubles. this is just my 2 cents based on owning a couple of Parkers. the glue stains on the carpet, powder coated cabin window frames peeling, and clamps/fitting leaking, and the flimsy bilge hatch are common issues that Parker is aware of. the bilge hatch issue is rectified by installing a leak-proof, flex-proof Beckson 14x24 hatch-$85.

the other issues are unsatisfactory IMO and should be corrected by the dealer. the window frames need to be removed and sealed properly, the bow rail will likely need replacing with another from the factory.

good luck. i started a thread many moons ago about factory issues with new boats.......out there somewhere. unfortunately with boats built by hand, there may be a degree of variability with the finished product. hopefully Parker will take notice of trends and correct as necessary.

 

[pelagic2530]

foulhook-

thank you for explaining. we do have a tendency to jump all over posts like these, which are frequently posted in the first post with no follow up or explanation. we also tend to be a bit defensive about our boats. i appreciate your taking the time to come on over and explain, and hope you'll stick around!

 

[foulhook]

foulhook-

thank you for explaining. we do have a tendency to jump all over posts like these, which are frequently posted in the first post with no follow up or explanation. we also tend to be a bit defensive about our boats. i appreciate your taking the time to come on over and explain, and hope you'll stick around!

Hey Pelagic,

Thanks for the reply. I am really liking this site. I expected to still get heat from you guys.. Pretty good bunch of guys here!

Everyone gets defensive when it comes to boat they own. I expect that. We aren't pleasure boaters. At this level fishing is our passion not hobby. Heck next to my wife and my son, my boat is the most important thing to me. For some of my friends it may not even be in that order :lol: Like I said Parker is still on my short list. The poster seemed to be trying to make it look otherwise.

By the way, ran the JB so hard on tuesday in snot that I cupped a lenco tab! Anyone ever have this happen. Didn't hit anything, just water pressure. It is so perfectly shaped it looks like it was made that way.

Bottom line to this whole uproar is that no boat is 100% perfect. Not my JB, not Parker, etc. If there were a perfect boat we wouldn't have anything to talk about on these boards. That would just mean more yardwork and other honey do's. My wife thinks I am working when I am really reading the boards :wink:

Tight lines and thanks again for the reply..Bob

BTW. I fish down your way (Indian River) as well. Mostly launch out of OC and fish the shoals out off Fenwick out to twin wrecks. I assume I'll probablt see you at CBBT this year as well? I'll buy you a beer at Stingrays.

 

[TunaJoe]

Thanks for the reply Jim
Again, I love my boat, runs like a sewing machine! Great economy, plenty of room, tremoundous value. Suits my needs to a T.
I'm just saying based on my boat, things could be a bit tighter in the QC department.
However, not the end of the world.
Had forgot about the problems till I saw this post.
I was aware when I bought my boat if issues arose, I'd be hauling a distance to correct them.
Hope everyone is having a great summer!
I'm hitting the Islands this weekend!

 

[Porkchunker]

foulhook,

Don't take the initial negative reaction too hard. Most of us have migrated through several sites (rec.boats.net, www.thehulltruth.com, www.boatered.com, etc.) and have watched them go downhill as various factions argued and bashed not only a brand or dealer, but each other.

We made it up in our minds that this site is mostly for Parker owners, Parker wannabees, and a few others with Parker envy, and we have a low tolerance for newcomers who start out negative on Parker.

Our goal here is to provide maximum information on how to use, maintain, modify, and repair our Parker boats in a congenial manner. We don't always agree, but when we disagree we try to do so in a gentlemanly manner (unusual for an Internet site these days).

There is a lot of good info here, and we welcome a JB owner who wants to discuss the joys of boating, fishing, using, and maintaining your JB.

Welcome aboard.

Dave

aka

 

[Themis]

CLASSIC PARKER is simply the most informative, information rich boat-intensive board on the net. And I have Whalers. I really enjoy visiting ContinuousWave, Classic Parker, and my local board: Barnegat Fishing Hole, but it is a real testament to the respect everyone has for Tom, Dale, Kevin, and each other here, that the content is so rich.

Bob... I am glad you explained your comments here, and I am glad that everyone welcomed you. And one other thing.... I have always admired how Jones Brothers makes a really swell Parker Wannabe boat, despite its wet ride in 6-8's

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Have a good weekend everyone.

 

[hakr]

Ya know, I have to agree with Foulhook about the QC.
I have my 2007 Parker 2520XL that was bought new and I absolutely love the boat. Suits my needs to a tee. Great value at the 65K I paid.
But frankly, the quality control is just not there. Lots of things that leave me scratching my head.
Examples:
1. Cabin door doesnt lock. Way out of adjustment. Took me an hour of adjustment to get the tenon to grab a little bit of the door jamb and lock.
2. Gaps on the where the stainless bow rail attach to the deck. Big gaps. Allowing water intrusion.
3. Hatch in V berth to access anchor leaks like crazy.
4. Was out in some big seas this spring and took some water into the windshield and the front starboard window frame leaks. Pretty bad. dribbles down right on top of my electronics.
5. Hatches in cabin out of adjustment. Plus, what's up with those screws that act as a latch and engage the metal clips to keep the hatches closed?
6. Fresh water wash down line leaks at fitting.
7. How about the deck hatches that feel like your going to fall right thru when you step on them? They flex quite a bit.
8. Glue stains bleeding thru on carpet in cabin.
9. Cabin window frames outside that are painted or powder coated is peeling.
These are all things I've got going on with my new boat with 22 hours. Yes, I could drive it to San Diego, a four drive thru LA in horrible traffic and have the dealer correct the minor issues. But not worth it to me. I'll fix it myself.
Again, I love my boat. Not meaning to bash Parker. But it is obvious that there are some QC issues.

Sounds to me like your dealer didn't check out the boat before delivery for most of the issues.