On Aug 6, 11:02*am, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:
On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:16:31 -0400, hk wrote:
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Wed, 6 Aug 2008 02:08:52 -0400, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"hk" wrote in message
om...
I realize there's not many here interested in boats, but there might be a
few lurkers who are.

This is a factory-supplied photo of a new offshore *fishing* boat that has
just been launched by Parker. It is hull #1 of actual production.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...neous/newtrail....

Yes, those are twin Yamaha F350s on the bracket. The boat is a 34-footer
and does about 55 mph at WOT.

I don't know what the market is for this boat. It certainly isn't a volume
product.

The interior is far less Spartan than is usual with a Parker, but it is
still a fisherman's craft, so it isn't like your typical bubble boat in
the main or forward cabin. The head, sink and shower are enclosed, there's
a vee-berth forward, there's an actual mechanical/plumbing room.
Main cabin has a command chair and a large area for electronics. There's a
wrap around bench and table, and a sink, stove, refrigerator/freezer..
That's what is easily visible.

The cockpit has a large and pretty fancy (for Parker) 2nd command console.

Pretty hefty trailer and tow vehicle, probably NOT an F150.
I know you like Parkers, which is fine, but to me, this simply looks like a
big, obese and overgrown version of the 25 footer.

The huge Yamaha outboards further reinforce that image. *It might look
better if it was set up with twin inboard diesels. *Some larger boats, like
a Yellowfin 34 or 36 CC offshore fishing boat look natural with big
outboards and they preserve space for fishing and gear. *IMO, the Parker
just doesn't look right with twin monsterous outboards.

What struck me was how unbalanced the boat looks on dry land - all
that cabin up front, huge stern deck and then the engines. *It just
looks unbalanced. *I'm sure it's a sound boat - Parker doesn't build
junk boats - it just looks odd.

Yeah, odd is a much better word.

It's just a bit bigger than you are used to seeing in that size boat.

True enough.

Put it another way...if I removed the center console from my Parker, I
believe your Ranger would fit inside and you wouldn't see your boat's
gunnels, and our boats are about the same length.

Nope - they would match up pretty well - the only thing your boat that
makes it different is that it's a little longer than mine while mine
is marginally wider (8'8" vs 8'6") and your sides may be slightly
taller from the chine to the top of the gunwale.

Here's an interesting exercise for us to try - measure from the keel
to the highest point of the gunwale, measure the broadest points
gunwale-to-gunwale, and the overall length. *Use the following formula
- Length times breadth (side-to-side at it's broadest point) times
depth (keel to highest point on gunwale) times .67 and divide that by
100.

I'll bet your GT and mine are within 5% of each other.

These are pilothouse style boats, and very traditional in proportions.
The cockpit is huge so as to accommodate the largest possible number of
fishermen. You obviously prefer a different style. I've always liked
workboat type boats.

Totally agree with that. *As Eisboch says, to each their own.

From guys I've talked to, Parkers have their following - which is cool
- every guy has their favorite (or dream) boat. *I know guys who only
buy Grady's and wouldn't consider any other boat. Same with a ton of
other vessels. *And Parker does build a quality boat - over and over
and over again which is my main complaint - there are marginal
differences from year-to-year - the styling just hasn't been updated.

Consider the venerable Novi hull as an example - the base style and
function stays the same, but there are differences depending on the
manufacturer. *You can look at a classic Novi hull and say, yep -
that's a Novi hull, but you can tell differences between hulls by how
long the forefoot is, the tumblehome at the stern - bow flare, etc.
That's a proven hull design which has been adapted and changed mainly
for style reasons - the base hull design has never changed. *I've seen
different year Parkers and they all look the same - no changes.

I just don't like static designs, but it works for you and that's
great.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Everything about Harry is "static". One look at him will tell you
that.