2008 New England Boat Show

[cbigma]

I made my annual trip to the New England Boat Show today. Crowd was very llight. Not sure if it was the nice weather, pending Patriots Playoff Game, or Post-Holiday Hangovers that kept the attendance down. Not that I minded a bit, as I felt like I had the place to myself.

I got an update of the Parker 34 Project from the same VP as last yearParker 34 Project Recap They have finished the Hull prototype, but have not yet married the superstructure piece to it. Once that is complete, they will release photos. Maybe Robin could send ClassicParker a few early-release photos when they are available to whet our whistle! 8)

The list of features will include (among the other items we already have discussed on CP) a Diesel Generator, Air Conditioning, Enclosed Shower and Head. There will be a three-panel windshield with port and starboard that open. A custom Armstrong Bracket 12 feet X 3 Feet will strap the twin 350 Yamahas to the stern. They have abandoned the earlier "integrated bracket" concept for a traditional arrangement.

There will be two 200 gallon gas tanks and a 50 Gal freshwater tank.

Now for the Parker Booth Display Shots.......

Lots of new Hardware, Grabrails are everywhere!

Looks like the Navy is showing off a new Stealth PT Boat. :shock:

This ugly duckling was attracting the biggest crowds of the show!

....John

 

[Porkchunker]

I was at the Timonium, MD (near Baltimore) show today. Crowds were also lite. See my post about the Timonium show.

Dave

aka

 

[Uncle Matt]

I was at the Boston show as well today. I spoke with the Parker representative, named Russell, for quite a while. John I believe I just missed you. Russell told me that he had just been speaking with someone here from classicparker. I took a bunch of pictures but many of them are similar to those already posted. I'll add a few different ones tomorrow.
***
By the way, I was wrong with my post from The Providence Boat Show. The new 34 will have a beam of 12 feet and not 13. I apologize for the error. Russell told me that they new 34 is being targeted for the leisure or recreational crowd. He also said that no price had been determined yet.
***
Russell also told me that Parker is listening and the new t-tops in their center consoles have the flat support bars so outriggers can easily be added. In fact, I noticed today at the show that many different boat makers have a similar t-top to Parkers new one.
***
Sorry I missed meeting you John.

 

[Uncle Matt]

The first is a 40 foot open FJORD. The rep at the show told me the base price was $540,000. Twin diesels with a cabin and bathroom under the deck. When asked, the rep told me the boat is targeted to those guys who want something their friends don't have. It comes with it's own blender!!!

 

[Uncle Matt]

A few additional Parker pictures.

 

[Uncle Matt]

Ok a few non Parkers. I noticed that the center consoles are getting HUGE and triples are the new fad. If you want to be cool and don't have the $150,000 to spend on an entry level go fast boat, start checking the used boat ads like me.

 

[Uncle Matt]

A few more from the show....

 

[Porkchunker]

If I had money coming out my ears, I'd have a 28 Carolina Classic with diesels for big water and a Parker 23 CC DV for fly fishing.

 

[ChrisC]

Great post. All of you who have been hitting the shows and posting pics and comments have done the rest of us (who are unable to attend) a real service. Thank you.

 

[Megabyte]

I got an update of the Parker 34 Project from the same VP as last yearParker 34 Project Recap They have finished the Hull prototype, but have not yet married the superstructure piece to it. Once that is complete, they will release photos. Maybe Robin could send ClassicParker a few early-release photos when they are available to whet our whistle! 8)

The list of features will include (among the other items we already have discussed on CP) a Diesel Generator, Air Conditioning, Enclosed Shower and Head. There will be a three-panel windshield with port and starboard that open. A custom Armstrong Bracket 12 feet X 3 Feet will strap the twin 350 Yamahas to the stern. They have abandoned the earlier "integrated bracket" concept for a traditional arrangement.

John... Great news about the 34!
I'm glad to hear that it won't have one of those goofy eutotransoms...

Great photos and reports everyone!
I especially appreciate the photo shots of the price and feature sheets! 8)

 

[dave-j]

Great shots! The Fjord 40 was pretty wierd, to say the least. I particularyl liked the primer gray hull...

I was very impressed with the Parker 25 WA. Great looking boat! The two rear-facing seats are just silly, though. The rep I talked with said they usually put twin 200's or even 150's on rather than the 350 single.

The triple engine trend will have a very limited audience, I think.

I would love to sea-trial the Albin 26 you pictured. It is kind of plain-jane, but has a bullet-proof feel.

There were a lot of very nice boats, but the Regulators and the Carolina Classics are the ones that get the pulse really going!

 

[CapeCodFrank]

Just a point of clarification... those rear-facing seats are on the 2310. The 2510 WA does not have them.

 

[cbigma]

I especially appreciate the photo shots of the price and feature sheets! 8)

I think ClassicParker should be -the- online source for current "street" pricing of all basic model Parkers. Who else is in a position to capture representative pricing from all regional shows and major dealers around the country? 8)

Not that it really matters,, that one model at a "Boat Show Special" dealer pricing is $500 more or less than a similar model at another dealer at another show.....with dealer territories what they are.

However, capturing representative street pricing of a new model year is of some value to our members, and more importantly,,prospective -new- members. When someone posts a question about whether his prospective "deal" is a good one or not, we have some baseline data to use for comparison.

And in Five years, when these freshly-minted sweeties become "ClassicParkers" and are hitting the "pre-owned" market, we'll have the history on what they left the showroom floor for. :wink:

 

[Megabyte]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[dave-j]

Capecodfrank is right, the rear facing seats are on the 23. The 25 has access to the live well where the port seat would have been. My bad!

The seats are just as silly on the 23!