Boat Test Parker 660 Boat Test Parker 660 Words and photos by Peter Poland Parker Boats’ new Pilothouse 660 arrives in the UK . How does it fare in this competitive market? The ‘sports fisherman’ is one type of boat that has gained great popularity over the last decade. Indeed in some harbours it has almost taken over from what we used to call ‘speed boats’ or ‘sports boats’. In many respects, this is easy to understand. A welldesigned sports fisherman hull will perform every bit as well as its flashier sisters because most share similar V shaped hulls; although some sports fisherman types have more pronounced keels and skegs in order to dry out on beaches when the tide goes out. The smaller ‘sports fisherman’ boats usually offer an all-weather wheelhouse, rudimentary sleeping accommodation and a large (and deep) self-draining cockpit. So they are versatile craft that can take a team of lads fishing one weekend, and a family on a short cruise the next. Many companies offer ranges of these boats, including Jeanneau and Bénéteau in France and Quicksilver and Arvor in Poland. Now a newcomer to the market has just launched the Parker Pilothouse 660 in the UK. And it’s up there with the best of them. Many may not have heard of Parker Boats (in Poland), but the company is actually one of the biggest and most successful RIB manufacturers in Europe. Over many years, the Parker RIB range has grown to include eleven models ranging from 5.1 metres right up to 16 metres. And that’s a big RIB! Parker’s clients include police and military users as well as commercial operators. Indeed, if you fancy an exciting high-speed trip to see the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, a Parker 900 (9 metre) Baltic RIB operates out of Poole (www.pooleseasafari.com). Parker has now decided to use its RIB building experience to branch out into a different market: hence the new Parker Pilothouse 660. I was invited down to Littlehampton by distributor Mick Mills of Littlehampton Marina to test the first Parker 660 to land on these shores. First impressions are good. The Parker’s pronounced pilothouse and large cockpit announce its intentions. This boat is designed to do a job. However it succeeds in looking different to run of the mill sports fisherman types of its size. The hull has a pleasing reverse sheer; which increases space and security amidships and looks good; especially when the boat is moving at high speeds. The pilothouse is substantially built, with all round glazing and a traditional ‘forward leaning’ curved screen that should shed water easily in rough conditions. And I was pleased to see that it had a substantial marine windscreen wiper from Vetus; as opposed to the micky mouse wiper blades fitted to so many smaller boats these days. Standing or sitting, the helmsman has a good all round view An extra (and optional) outside helm Stepping aboard, I was impressed by the boat’s stability and the size of its cockpit. Some modern sports fisherman boats of this type have cut back on cockpit size in order to have a longer roof. But the Parker has not made this mistake. There’s space galore for several people to relax (on optional side benches and portable ‘director chairs’) or fish. And there’s a fold-down table for drinks or a pic-nic. What’s more there are five lockers beneath the cockpit sole offering easy access to fuel tank, water tank, holding tank (for the marine w.c.), battery and seacocks. And there’s also loads of stowage space. The two aft lockers will hold your bait and all the fish that are caught. Two other small lockers accommodate rods (starboard) and a pump and shower hose (port) so you can sluice down the fishy decks with seawater. This all shows Parker’s experience and attention to detail. Parker’s experience also shows in other areas. A second steering position forward in the cockpit is an unusual and very effective option (£1272 extra with the Verado), and a neat ‘bus driver’s’ knob on the wheel means that changing direction quickly is simple. A massive stainless steel grab rail ahead of the engine well stops anyone from falling backwards. A neat step (to port) gives safe access to the side decks that are genuinely ‘walk-around’. And once you are on deck and moving forward, beefy stainless steel grab rails fall readily to hand. There are two lockers in the bow (for anchor and warp etc) and a forward facing seat. About the only thing missing on the demo boat was a stemhead fitting; but Mick Mills assured me that this was coming. The Parker Pilothouse 660’s accommodation also works well. Access is via substantial (and lockable) sliding patio-type doors. To starboard is a small galley area with sink, single burner cooker and stowage lockers; and opposite to port is a double settee (which hinges up to reveal an electric cooler box under) and another big locker. Then ahead of these are the inside helm position (starboard) and crew seat (port) which has an effective ‘hinge down’ foot brace. Plenty of fresh air is available through sliding windows (both sides) and an overhead hatch. The helmsman’s seat is worthy of special mention, because it is of high quality for a boat of this size. It is well upholstered and has a ‘flip up’ swab forward so you can stand to steer as comfortably as you can sit. In total, four people can sit in the warmth of the pilothouse. And there’s 6’6” headroom, so moving about is not a problem. The double berth and w.c. are located up in the bows. The w.c. is a proper marine flushing type and is accessed by hinging up a section of the bunk. This is simple and effective; albeit potentially a bit public. Extra creature comfort on the demo boat was provided by a Webasto blown-air heating system (£2007 extra inc. diesel tank). The Parker Pilothouse 660’s performance is equally impressive. The demo boat is fitted with a beefy supercharged Mercury Verado 135 four stroke. Heading out of the harbour at 1500 rpm, it purred along at 5.9 knots. With revs increased to 2500, it planed at 9.6 knots and this shot up to 15.5 knots at 3500 rpm. A comfortable (and still peaceful) cruising speed of around 20 knots came up at 3,500 rpm. This would be ideal for covering distance at speed and economically. Top rpm of 5,600 brought up an impressive 32 knots. I was also astonished by the acceleration from standstill. The Parker would definitely double up as a potent water-ski boat with this engine package. If you prefer a less powerful (and expensive) engine, Parker claims that the 660 still hits 29 knots with a Suzuki 90 clamped on its stern; and saving around £6,500 in the process. And now that marine diesel costs around £1 a litre, I foresee that modern and economical four stroke outboards will become increasingly popular. You will have to do a prodigious number of hours to save the extra cost of an inboard diesel. As one would expect from a long established and successful builder of RIBs, the Parker 660’s hull lines produce precise handling and good sea-going characteristics. Unfortunately the conditions were relatively benign on the day of the test, but even when powering through its own wake at high speed, the Parker gave a commendably soft ride. The deep ‘V’ sections forward cut effortlessly through the water and the wellpositioned spray rails kept things steady on high- speed turns. When I peered under another 660 sitting on the Boat Test Parker 660 hard, I could see just how sweet the Parker’s lines are. This is not a flighty skimming dish; it’s a proper highperformance hull designed to go to sea. I was also impressed by the Parker’s quality of build. GRP moulding work looked well executed and robust. Even the locker lids were neatly finished on their underside. The structure of the glazed pilothouse sides also looked strong and well finished, and all the fittings and stainless steel work looked chunky (rather than Boat Test Parker 660 flimsy and cost cutting). The trim in the wheelhouse and cabin was also neat and modern. The UK importer, Littlehampton Marina, has twelve years experience of new and brokerage boat sales. It has also been the main Larson importer for the UK and Ireland for eleven years and operates a 120 berth marina with space for 200 park and launch boats. There’s also a 3000 sq.ft. service workshop, undertaking all types of work such as engine servicing, trailer servicing, GRP repairs and OEM work as dealers for Suzuki & Mariner. To launch the Parker Pilothouse 660 in the UK, Littlehampton Marina is offering special introductory prices and discounts of around 10% for orders placed by August 30th 2010. Net of this discount, the standard boat ex engine comes in at an introductory £22,106. There are also many engine options. As examples, the standard boat with a Suzuki 90 is £31,081; while with the big Mercury Verado 135, this goes up to £36,973 when fitted with twin controls. Even though this was one of the early 660’s off the line, I could find little to fault. But then Parker is hardly a newcomer to production boat building, even if the name is not yet very well known on these shores. Littlehampton Marina will be exhibiting the Parker Pilothouse 660 for the first time at this year’s Southampton Boat Show, and I suspect that it will become a major player in its market. Above: This well designed hull handles well at speed Below: The crew seat and double settee (with fridge underneath) Right page, top left: The deep V forward flattens off nicely aft Right page, middle left: The seawater hose cleans the cockpit. A neat idea. Right page, bottom left: The boat handles well at over 30 knots PARKER Pilothouse 660 LOA......................................................................... 6.6 metres Beam................................................................................ 2.5 Weight ex engine.............................................................1100 kg Fuel tank.....................................................................140 litres Water tank.................................................................... 40 litres Waste holding tank.......................................................... 40 litres Maximum HP.......................................................................140 Standard equipment: pilot seat with flip-up bolster; second forward facing seat; flushing sea toilet; holding tank; fresh water tank; fuel tank; 12 volt cooler box; gas cooker; sink with fresh water pump; salt water deck pump; hydraulic steering inside helm; navigation lights; windscreen wiper. Prices after introductory discount (valid orders placed by 30th August 2010) Price standard boat with introductory discount ex engine:............ £22,106 Standard boat with Mariner 100 EFI four stroke........................ £31,205 Standard boat with Mariner 115 EFI four stroke........................ £32,657 Standard boat with Mercury Verado 135 four stroke................... £35,707 Standard boat with Suzuki 90 four stroke................................ £31,081 Standard boat with Suzuki 100 four stroke............................... £31,689 Standard boat with Suzuki 115 four stroke............................... £31,689 Standard boat with Suzuki 115 four stroke............................... £33,347 Standard boat with Suzuki 140 four stroke............................... £34,419 Importer: Littlehampton Marina, Ferry Rd, Littlehampton, BN17 5DS. Tel: 01903 713553 email: [email protected] www.littlehamptonmarina.co.uk