"HarryKrause" wrote in message
...
Tim wrote:
That is a really nice boat Harry.

I ahve ehard of a Parker, but don't really know that much about them.
Are they comparable (construction or other...) to a Grady White or a
Boston Whaler?

Tim



My local dealer, who handles both, has told me several times that the
Gradys and the Parkers are built from almost identical methods and
materials, but that the Parkers are "sturdier." I have no way to verify
that. What is obvious, though, is that the Gradys have a higher level of
finish and incorporate more custom stainless hardware and other fittings.
To my mind, finish on the Whalers is down a few rungs from what you see on
a Grady. The construction of Whalers and Gradys, however, is totally
different.

I've seen cross-sections of both brands; they looked about identical in
construction to me. I've been out in rough seas in Gradys and Parkers, and
the similar models ride and handle about the same.

The smaller and mid-size Gradys have a footwell channel running alongside
the cabin. In Harry's pictures, it doesn't look like the Parker has the
channel. Personally, I don't like the channel because if you take green
water over the bow it doesn't roll off the sides. It runs in the channels
and fills the cockpit. I've had a foot of standing water in the cockpit of
the 23' Gulfstream I used to own.

My Whaler 25' Outrage Cuddy is much safer in a head sea with close-spaced
breaking waves. I've stuffed the bow on the Whaler, and it rolls off like a
duck...with no water in the cockpit. If I were in a center console, or a
Grady walk-around, I'd be standing in knee-deep water...and in most other
boats, I'd sink.


I don't see how you can go wrong with a Whaler, a Grady, or a Parker.
They're all fine fishing boats.

I sure wouldn't mine owning one of the new Grady 33s or 36s. Sweet boats.

I've had my eye on the Grady 33 for awhile now. It'll sleep 5 in a
pinch...which is perfect for my family and weekends in the Keys. You can
buy some '02's and '03's right now for $170-190k...but they're powered with
225 Yamaha four-strokes. According to the manufacturer, the boat can run
40-42 mph with those engines. Not bad. What I don't like is that the
optimum cruising speed is just over 24 mph at 4000 RPM. That's means
there's a lot of wear and tear on the motors if the boat is run 30+mph most
of the time. Most of the people I'll be travelling with cruise 30-35 mph.


I want a boat that will cruise at 30 mph with the engine speed at 4000 or
less...so I'll probably wait to see performance numbers on the 33 with
Yammie 250 four-strokes...and wait until used ones hit the market in a
couple of years.

The 36 is beautiful, but I don't like the idea of having to maintain 3
engines.