Parker vs. Steiger craft

[Steve]

I can't find any good reviews regarding these two manufacturers in the 25 foot modified vee category. Which is the safest, best built and best value of these manufacturers in your opinion. Any other selections pertaining to this type of pilot house boat should I be looking at?

[Dean_Travis_Clarke]

You won't find reviews of Parkers very often becase Lin Parker doesn't want to be bothered supplying writers with boats to test. And he probably doesn't have to. He has a good business and isn't interested in growing beyond where he is now, I guess. Steiger Craft makes a tough, durable boat too. You won't go wrong with either one.

[Ron_Krocker]

Which did you decide on? I'm interested in the 2310 Parker and the Steiger Craft 23 Chesapeake. Both of these boats are new to the Northwest for the most part so I can't find much information on either. They both seem well built basic fishing boats that can handle fairly rough water. I have come to the conclusion that you can usually tell a good boat by how well it holds it's value. I'm assuming that both of these would. I like the lifetime warranty that the Steiger Craft comes with, but it's also more expensive than the Parker. Anyway, just interested on what boat you chose? Or if you did. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Ocean_Dog]

I chose the 23' Miami. It has a full drop-down curtain instead of the fiberglass doors, and a gel-coated interior instead of the Parker's carpeted walls which I think will be easier to clean. Both are great boats, but I think the Miami/Chesapeake is more versatile with it's 13" draft. I put a pair of Suzuki 200's on the bracket.

[Jim]

I LOOKED FOR 2 YEARS AT THE SHOWS AND FOUND THAT THE BEST VALUE WAS THE PARKER 2320. VERSTILE TOUGH BOAT. I HAVE HAD IT NOW FOR TO YEARS AND HAVE FISHED IT HARD. IN SEA OF CORTEZ AND TOUGH UNPREDICTABLE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA. I HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT HOW WELL THIS BOAT CAN HANDLE 10 TO 14 FT. SEAS. OF COURSE I WOULD'NT SUGGEST YOU TRY THAT BUT SHE'S BEEN REALLY GOOD TO ME AND THE BOAT IS WORTH DARN NEAR AS MUCH AS I PAID FOR IT.

[Sean]

I am looking at buying either a 25 parker or stieger and cannot make up my mind. Both are excellent boats. In my mind the Parker comes up short by not offereing the Diesel engine anymore and is a little more over priced, but the Stieger has a smaller cabin. I believe I am going to go with the Steigeronly due to the availablity of the diesel. With gas prices the way they are and only rising, diesel is the best bet.

[Alan_Luce]

I have been researching walk-arounds for a long time, looking to buy one soon in th 23-25 foot range. I was thoroughly impressed by the Parker 2320 and 2520, from construction standpoint as well as room on board. Amazing room available on both vessels. High dollar new, but solidly built, my only drawback with Parker is the continued presence of wood structural members. My feeling is no boat of this value should have any wood in the construction in this day and age, particularly given the hull warranty offered. Still shopping.

[marshabrady]

any boat w/wood in the hull - built correctly - is not going to have issues. parker takes the time to make sure the fir is completely encapsulated and unable to retain or be exposed to moisture. this allows for an incredibly dry, overbuilt, unbelievable boat w/a ride to match. ride in one, touch one, own one, before you complain about the wood that's in it, or the carpet, or the cabin size. it's the last boat i'll ever need.

[marshabrady]

any boat w/wood in the hull - built correctly - is not going to have issues. parker takes the time to make sure the fir is completely encapsulated and unable to retain or be exposed to moisture. this allows for an incredibly dry, overbuilt, unbelievable boat w/a ride to match. ride in one, touch one, own one, before you complain about the wood that's in it, or the carpet, or the cabin size. it's the last boat i'll ever need.

[John]

[John_]

I pushed enter instead of tab on the last message! I own a 2001 Steiger Craft Block Island 23. I really like the boat. It doesn't make me nervous in heavy seas and is built like a tank. I have a 230hp Mercruiser w/ duo-prop drive. 2.5-2.7 MPG with a good load on board. I have 787hrs on the engine.
I can also testify to Al Steigers commitment to his customers. The first engine had major electrical issues that Mercruiser couldn't reslove. Mercury just kept trying differnt things to repair the electrical problem. Al Steiger came to the rescue and paid the lions share of a new motor to be installed (the rest was paid by Mercruiser). After the first three months of Mercuiser hell, the next one has run for 3 1/2 years trouble free.
Al Steiger builds great fishing boats and takes care of his boat owners.

[dave]

I have a 23" Steiger Long Beach CC. And love it. It Definitely is built like a tank, and I would pay extra for that piece of mind. No wood whatsoever. The floor decking is easily 3/4" of solid fiberglass. Al makes some really strong boats. Remember Al sells many boats to commercial guys, harbor patrol, state police, etc. So you know there is great quality in these boats. I'm 35 and I think this is the last boat I will ever own.

[Thad_Johnson]

I was confused for a while too. Never owned a boat before but live near Cape Cod Bay and dammed if I'm gonna waste another season waiting for friends to finish "waxing" their boats so I've decided to buy my own! Love the lifetime warranty of Steiger but the 2120(my $ range) is a lot of boat for the $. Beam is larger than the 21 Chesapeake which makes a huge diff o me. Give me a door over a curtain any day-I've just extended my season by a month+! Paker has been around a while & everyone I talk too (no reviews avail!) swears by 'em. Although the "wood" issue, I agree with, I believe every boat is a compromise and this certainly works. I believe the Aluminum boats make the most sense but they don't have the design/$ combo. avail. to make sense. Flip a coin I came down to these two like you guys I think we'll all have 'em for a while!

[Thad_Johnson]

Forgot my E-Mail-anyone got any info-talk to me!

[Mike]

I JUST LOOKED AT A 2002 STEIGER BLOCK ISLAND 25' AT A PARKER DEALER. I AM SORRY TO SAY THE STEIGER WAS ALREADY SHOWING DISTRESSING SIGNS OF WEAR. POORLY FITTED WINDOW SEALS, SPRAY RAILS PEELING AWAY FROM HULL, CONSOLE HARDWARE CORRODING, TEAK MOLDING CRACKED AROUND WINDSHIELD, NOT TO MENTION THE DECK AND HULL WERE FLIMSY COMPARED TO THE PARKER. POUND ON THE SIDE OF BOTH AND JUMP UP AND DOWN ON THE FORWARD DECK AND COCKPIT OF BOTH AND YOU'LL NOTICE A BIG DIFFERENCE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND A 1998 MOD VEE 25' PARKER WITH VERY LIGHT USE FOR A FAIR PX. DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE RUNNING THE "MOD VEE" IN HEAVY CHOP? I AM CONCERNED THE MOD VEE WILL POUND IN THE CHOP WE GET IN THE GREAT SOUTH BAY. THNX IN ADVANCE.

[fisher-man]

I'm sure your Parker is in the garbage by now/ The steiger craft chesepeake 25 is a war wagon, its deck is 1/2 inch thicker than the parkers deck, and no wood stringers.
steigercraft is a better boat and holds its value.

[Steve]

Mike,
I find it very interesing that the Steiger you saw in questionable condition was, of all places, at a Parker dealer!
I find that suspect. Not impossible, but suspect.
ANY boat that is neglected will show wear. Be it Steiger, Parker, Fountain.
Al Steiger did not get his impecable reputation by building an inferior product.
Be it Parker or Steiger, it is a win win situation. Both are outstanding in their class.
Why only 5 years on the Parker hull?

[Rumbley]

I'm in the market for a 21 CC Fished the other dat in Tangier Sound on a 21SE Parker Very! Impressed! Haven't found a 21 Long Beach to test but would love opinions as the price is BETTER??

[Mike]

STEVE, WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE STEIGER BEING AT A PARKER DEALER? I WASN'T TRYING TO BASH AL'S BOATS, JUST STATING WHAT I SAW, AND THE DECKS AND SIDES DID SEEM FLIMSY COMPARED TO THE PARKER, NOT TO MENTION OTHER WEAR AND TEAR ON A FAIRLY NEW BOAT. I THINK THE STEIGERS ARE VERY NICE LOOKING BOATS AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY STEIGER OWNERS WHO ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR BOATS (I WOULD PROB BE TOO IF I BOUGHT ONE), BUT I STILL FEEL THE PARKER IS MORE SOLID OVERALL. I HAVE SINCE BOUGHT A 1994 PARKER 23' WALKAROUND AND AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH HOW WELL THE BOAT RIDES IN HEAVY CHOP AND HOW WELL BUILT IT IS.