Why did Parker stop making the 3420 Sport Cabin?

MHC_Parker2520_2005 · Sep 19, 2024

I have this question for a lot of Parker models. Why did they stop making the 3420 Sport Cabin and the Parker Big Bay? I think these are the coolest and most unique boats Parker has ever made and yet they seem to be extinct.

Also not to be mean about Parker today, but it really seems they've gone off the deep end with the mass marketing similar to Carolina Skiff. For me Parker's appeal has always been simplicity and convenience, especially with the older modeled boats. They don't seem to make those anymore. Love my 2005 2520 Sport Cabin, wouldn't trade it for anything new.

warthog5 · Sep 20, 2024

The simple answer is Sometimes "COOL" doesn't give you a good return on your investment.

Witness · Sep 20, 2024

When a company retires a model it's because they weren't profitable, always !!!

MHC_Parker2520_2005 · Sep 20, 2024

Very sad, if I ever see one it feels like I've spotted a white rhinoceros. I can see why it wasn't profitable though, it is a very Niche boat. 30+ class cabin boats like that are probably too heavy to tow, not fast or well riding like a Contender-like CC, and bad on gas. Would compete more with the class of custom carolina style convertibles more than anything.

Still a cool boat imo.

Mpellet · Sep 20, 2024

MHC_Parker2520_2005 said:
Very sad, if I ever see one it feels like I've spotted a white rhinoceros. I can see why it wasn't profitable though, it is a very Niche boat. 30+ class cabin boats like that are probably too heavy to tow, not fast or well riding like a Contender-like CC, and bad on gas. Would compete more with the class of custom carolina style convertibles more than anything.

Still a cool boat imo.

I climbed around a 3420 at a boat show back when Parker was making them. It was very large and impressive looking. I haven’t seen one in the used market in a while but they used to occasionally pop up for reasonable prices with early generation F350s on em. That probably influenced the seemingly reasonable used prices, those F350s would be pretty old these days…

warthog5 · Sep 21, 2024

There was also a time / fad when folks that owned BIG Battle wagons , got rid of them and jumped into 40-50 ft Quad center consoles to get to the fishing grounds Fast...... That has kinda moved into a Norm now. Hell even the Homeland Security has them.... Not that they do much under current administration.

VCC · Sep 25, 2024

A few years back on a tour, I asked a senior foreman in the plant about why the 3420 was no more, and he said the main reason was one of available personnel. The skill level required to finish the 3420 was much higher than what's required for the smaller models.