So I took possession of my 2120 on Wednesday this week, my first vacation in three years. Anyway, I now know what you guys know: Parker makes a fantastic small boat.
I really spent a lot of time thinking over Parker, Steiger, and Maritime Skiff. In the end though, some of the things that Steiger owners complain about with regards to parkers are the things I like the most. I really like the open berth. It's nice easy access to storage and easy to move around in, it's lower profile, and it just makes the boat feel a little roomier. I like the step down for it's profile. I'm surprised at how solid the helm console is, as with the post, it just doesn't seem that solid in pictures. I also like the carpet liner. The bench is also a win in my book. It's a great place to sit with your back against the aft bulkhead facing forward. I like it better than having another chair on the port side.
I've had the boat out on inner Mallett's Bay, the outer bay, out on the Big Lake, Shelburne Bay and around the Burlington area. The boat handles beautifully for such a small boat. It's deadrise and entry seem great for a lake like Champlain which at around 125 miles long by 10 wide, it gets some weird seas and chop. It was certainly far more comfortable in that than my previous boats, both Boston Whalers.
The cockpit is certainly big enough for me, and I'm not really disappointed that I didn't spring for the 23 with the Armstrong. Sure it's nice, but this works well for me, and I wanted fuel efficient.
I'm HUGELY glad I took this board's advice and got the extra helm. It just rocks to have for being outside, and for mooring/docking maneuvers. It took me a few minutes to get used to the teleflex with throttle and gear separated (I did accidentally hard reverse docking once, but it just backed me away to start over) :shock: Docking with just leaving the throttle at low RPM's and using the gear is awesome. I don't think I can go back now.
I was also surprised that the house seemed consistently cooler than the cockpit with the bimini up.
On the outer bay, with no wind or current and flat water, I was surprised to see 37.5MPH on GPS with about 85 gallons of gas and just myself (170lbs). I figured about 33-34 would be tops. So I'm quite happy with the 150. That one I really sweated, because I thought I wanted a 200, but I had too good a deal on a 2012 leftover.
The only cons that I've thought of after a few days on the water:
- These boats need handrails on the bulkhead ceiling.
- The latch on my door seems to kinda suck. I haven't really looked closely, but I've had it pop open twice while underway. I just locked it at the time, but I need to sort that.
- The really should make the fiberglass splashguard removable. That thing takes up some space, and it seems to really trap crap under it everywhere except at the ends where the drains are. I've backed down a few times just to see what happens and water never got past the small part of the splashwell.
So thanks all for the advice. This boat just rocks.
Moored in Mallett's bay by Champlain Marina
Aft bulkhead before:
Aft Bulkhead after
I really spent a lot of time thinking over Parker, Steiger, and Maritime Skiff. In the end though, some of the things that Steiger owners complain about with regards to parkers are the things I like the most. I really like the open berth. It's nice easy access to storage and easy to move around in, it's lower profile, and it just makes the boat feel a little roomier. I like the step down for it's profile. I'm surprised at how solid the helm console is, as with the post, it just doesn't seem that solid in pictures. I also like the carpet liner. The bench is also a win in my book. It's a great place to sit with your back against the aft bulkhead facing forward. I like it better than having another chair on the port side.
I've had the boat out on inner Mallett's Bay, the outer bay, out on the Big Lake, Shelburne Bay and around the Burlington area. The boat handles beautifully for such a small boat. It's deadrise and entry seem great for a lake like Champlain which at around 125 miles long by 10 wide, it gets some weird seas and chop. It was certainly far more comfortable in that than my previous boats, both Boston Whalers.
The cockpit is certainly big enough for me, and I'm not really disappointed that I didn't spring for the 23 with the Armstrong. Sure it's nice, but this works well for me, and I wanted fuel efficient.
I'm HUGELY glad I took this board's advice and got the extra helm. It just rocks to have for being outside, and for mooring/docking maneuvers. It took me a few minutes to get used to the teleflex with throttle and gear separated (I did accidentally hard reverse docking once, but it just backed me away to start over) :shock: Docking with just leaving the throttle at low RPM's and using the gear is awesome. I don't think I can go back now.
I was also surprised that the house seemed consistently cooler than the cockpit with the bimini up.
On the outer bay, with no wind or current and flat water, I was surprised to see 37.5MPH on GPS with about 85 gallons of gas and just myself (170lbs). I figured about 33-34 would be tops. So I'm quite happy with the 150. That one I really sweated, because I thought I wanted a 200, but I had too good a deal on a 2012 leftover.
The only cons that I've thought of after a few days on the water:
- These boats need handrails on the bulkhead ceiling.
- The latch on my door seems to kinda suck. I haven't really looked closely, but I've had it pop open twice while underway. I just locked it at the time, but I need to sort that.
- The really should make the fiberglass splashguard removable. That thing takes up some space, and it seems to really trap crap under it everywhere except at the ends where the drains are. I've backed down a few times just to see what happens and water never got past the small part of the splashwell.
So thanks all for the advice. This boat just rocks.
Moored in Mallett's bay by Champlain Marina
Aft bulkhead before:
Aft Bulkhead after
