Parker Boats

Grady White club of Daytona

2010-03-01T11:50:00.001-05:00

The Daytona Grady Club is an organization of Grady-White owners and their families from all around Daytona Beach and surrounding Central Florida area. This club was organized to promote fun family boating experiences for its members and to encourage an active and social boating lifestyle for all Grady-White owners.

Feel free to visit our Forum to post fishing reports, talk to other members, look for fishing buddies, post pictures or make suggestions for Club events. Be sure to check out the Calendar which will have the latest infomation about our planned activities. Enjoy the Grady Life even more with the Daytona Grady Club!

Daytona Grady Club is sponsored by Parker Boats of Daytona. To contact us click here

Boston Whaler Factory Tour

2010-02-25T17:03:00.082-05:00

Parker Boats hosted its second major plant tour and club event on February 25th, when it hosted a group of Boston Whaler owners and fans at the company's Edgewater production facility. Located on 50 acres, stretching from US-1 to the Halifax River, the facility houses 250,000 sq ft of production space, multiple boat docks and a custom built testing pool. Boston Whaler centralized its production efforts to this single facility in 1994. BW strictly does fiberglass production at this facitity and install outsourced interiors, electronics and parts per customer specifications.

Here our host and tour guide, Chuck, explains the cold molding process that BW uses for smaller fiberglass parts, which takes an average of 3 hours to complete.

The building process for BW boat begins at 3am with initial gel coat molds, then chopping and fiberglass laying. Several different types and thicknesses are part of BW's trademarked process for each boat. Each individial boat starts at the cutting machines, with each part being pre-cut and traveling through the plant as a single project.

Following the parts cutting, the boat moves into the hull fiberglassing department, where workers lay down the layers of fiberglass and gel coating. Small boats are finished in one area, with workers able to complete 5-8 boats week, working 10-hour shifts 4 days week (versus your traditional 8-hour shifts 5 days week).

Larger Boats are assembled, built and foberglasses in larger forms, which are moved throughout the plant by a massive forklift. Notice that there are wheels on both sides of the larger forms, to enable roof cranes and forklifts to rotate the boats in-form.

Next, the forms are taken into an adjacent room where a multi-million dollar foam filler machine sprays the BW "unsinkable" foam into the molds. This injection molding allows for a uniform insulation throughout the hull.

Outside, molds that have been injected bake in the warm Florida sun. Beyond the molds a large number of towers, railings and trim pieces await their installation.

Back inside the plant, we see the final assembly lines for the different BW models. All smaller boats travel down same assembly lines, while the larger (32' plus) models travel separately.

Outside, and nearing the end of our tour, we see the original Boston Whaler test pool, where countless numbers of BW's (and competitors boats) have met a chainsaw to test their "unsinkability". It doesnt require mentioning, that many of the Non-BW boats met the bottom of the pool, while not one BW did!

Parker Boats thanks its owners and fans that attended this special event. We hope that you enjoyed the information about one of our favorite brands, Boston Whaler. For a full range of Boston Whaler models and options, visit their site: Boston Whaler or visit the Parker Boats site to see available models now!

Sea Ray hosts Parker Boats staff and clients.

2010-02-11T23:20:00.000-05:00

Recently, Parker Boats had the unique opportunity to share with their staff and clients a chance to tour the Sea Ray plant located in Palm Coast, FL. Hosted by Bill Yingling, the group was comprised of both staff and clients from both the Orlando and Daytona Beach locations, and luckily for me, ME! We were well hosted at the entrance, given quick instructions about safety, some required safety gear (including goggles and ear plugs), split into groups and let directly onto the production floor.

My group was lead by Lead Quality Assurance Engineer, Freddy Birchfield, who was excellent; sharing great information and insight into each departments key staff, procedures, production steps and Sea Ray's continuous efforts to streamline production time while insuring maximum quality. Starting in the wood shop, you see the "ribs and guts" of the different Sea Ray models that are built at this location. Next we passed several forms, including this one here for a 45 sedan bridge.

Can you believe that from this point, this facility and staff are capable of producing this yacht pictured above completed and shipped within an average of 17 days? Yeah, I know! Amazingly, even with that crazy production time, everything on site is quality controlled and analyzed several times to insure quality and conformity to Sea Ray high standards. Here, tour guide and Lead Q.A. Engineer, Freddy Birchfield (right, with back to camera) explains how purple helps plant workers to identify and correct imperfections in the hull of a 47 Sundancer Hull. That is a filling compound that is stained purple to see in all that oyster white...

As the yachts move through the plant, and specifically here in the lamination department, all the major pieces of the hull and structure travel together to insure quality and scheduling. Here are several 45ft plus Sea Ray's coming to life.

Leaving the fabrication and lamination departments, we pass some nearly completed yachts getting the finishing touches of pinstripes, chrome and additional electronics installed prior to shipping or launch.

Anyone got a spare engine? Oh wait, these guys do...never mind!

Passing the racks of engines and mechanical parts waiting for their new homes, we enter into the Galley Fabrication departments, including; the woodshop, shelving, and trim carpentry. This plant has a full woodshop that gives them the ability to fabricate any and all necessary pieces including the cabinetry, forms, etc. So don't be thinking that Sea Ray ships out for your holds next time you go below...all that was handmade by someone with a Sea Ray logo on their shirt. Below, Freddy explains the interior fabrication process and materials tracking system the Sea Ray plant employees use to insure quality control (At this point we all realize how much Freddy is into QUALITY, hence the corporate title).

Here you see a partially completed galley for a 45 Sedan Bridge from Sea Ray, which as Freddy explains it, are finished entirely in the fabrication department and placed in the hulls prior to the caps being placed over.

Leaving the Galley department, we come to the final assembly building where the hull, the interior, the engines, all the major wiring and electronics installations are completed. At the end of this building shall emerge a working yacht in just a few days...maybe even before the weekend. Just in time!

Final stop on the tour, the launch deck where all yachts produced at this facility are launched for sea trials and water-based testing. Here you see the lifts, as well as the "Hurricane Slip"; this is where your favorite SEa Ray Yacht was blasted by over a dozen high-pressure nozzles for over 30 minutes! Talk about overkill...but it is something that SR/Meridian demand for their models. At the same time, a smoke test is also performed from the engine compartment to insure that no leaks exist between the bay and the cabin.

All in all, the Sea Ray plant tour is an excellent learning experience for any owner or brand enthusiast. Here you will learn not only about the very cool yachts that this amazing crew produce, but also about the people, about their dedication to making something special for others to enjoy. The amount of time, money and effort that has been put into this facility, its operations and its people is admirable, especially given the current economic environment and the high-end nature of their products, that will continue to payoff for this location and this company for some time to come. I would recommend that anyone interested in learning more about the amazing boat building process try and get on the next trip that Parker Boats is able to arrange.

Thanks for having me Sea Ray!

Tyler LeCompte

Owner - 2009 Sea Ray 230 sundeck, 6 time Parker Boat owner and Guest Blogger

A New Year w/ New Memories

2010-01-26T13:01:00.013-05:00

Well, it's a new year folks! Happy 2010! I'm excited about what the future holds for the marine industry! No doubt, last year will probably go down as one of the worst years in the history of the marine business, but there is still much to be grateful for. I know 2009 was a tough year for us, but we're still here to tell our story and share our passion for boating with our customers. I'm grateful to be part of one of Americas greatest pastimes. Boating brings out the kid in all of us and creates a pocket of memories to be cherished for generations to come. Some of my best memories with my wife and three boys happen to be on a boat. I remember going out to disappearing island, near Ponce Inlet, on a Monday afternoon and practically had the whole island to ourselves. It was a perfect day with hardly a cloud in the sky. The tide was coming in with cool clear water from the inlet and the temperature was near 85 degrees. We anchored our Boston Whaler 18 Dauntless about 10 ft off the beach and walked to shore. Even though Sammy (2) just played with his truck in the sand (and occasionally tasted some), and Brenden (7) and Ethan (5) tried to catch minnows for hours as if their pure existence depended on it, we had a great time! As I reflect upon my time off from work and how I've chosen to spend that time with my family, I realize even more that I must plan to make more memories like this day at Disappearing Island. The joy of boating isn't always about the boat, but the destination which requires a boat to get you there!

Thank you, to our customers, for allowing us to continue this legacy of boating, started by my grandfather in 1927. It's only because of you that we can still be here today!

Watch "A Good Run"; a great video that captures the essence of the boating lifestyle! This is why we continue to do what we do! Thank you for boating with Parker Boats!

Posted by: Brad Parker

Start 2010 off right - with a new boat or motor!

2010-01-19T11:05:00.002-05:00

Now that 2010 is officially underway, Parker Boats is proud to announce that we have some excellent sales specials running right now from all of our major brands! Not only are Sea Ray, Grady White and Boston Whaler all running special incentives for New Boat purchases, but you can also get some great specials on a new motor for your existing boat from both Mercury and Yamaha!

Sea Ray

As the top choice of pleasure boaters worldwide, Sea Ray stands ready to help you achieve your boating destiny during our Take Command Sales Event. This is the ideal time to get into the current or non-current Sea Ray of your dreams while taking advantage of fantastic savings from $1,000 to $175,000.*

Whether you're a first-time buyer or loyal customer, Sea Ray has the right boat for you at an unbeatable price, plus everything you need to enjoy it with confidence: superior quality, award-winning satisfaction and lifestyle events like no other.

Grady White

Save up to $6,000 during Grady White's 2010 Winter Promotion at Parker Boats. It starts January 6, 2010 and ends February 28, 2010. It includes incentives on ALL new Grady White Boats - current inventory, non-current inventory, boats on order and all new orders - everything qualifies for this promotion with Parker Boats! PLUS Yamaha Marine is offering up to 6 years of extended warranty on eligible four stroke outboards on these Grady Whites!

Boston Whaler

Legends aren't born. They're made by providing the safest, highest quality, most durable boats on the water for more than 50 years. For a limited time, stop by your local Boston Whaler dealer for Unsinkable savings on Conquest, Dauntless, and Outrage models.

*Participating boats include non-current (2009 and older) non-discontinued Conquest, Dauntless and Outrage models currently in dealer inventory. Offer valid on boats purchased January 4, 2010 thru February 28, 2010 only. See your local dealer for more information and actual incentives.

Yamaha Marine

For a limited time, you can get three years Yamaha limited warranty coverage and an additional three years Yamaha Extended Service (YES) plan at no additional cost! Valid from January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010!

Mercury Marine

Now through April 30, 2010, purchase any qualifying Mercury outboard (Verado, OptiMax and Mercury FourStroke models) and receive an additional 5 years factory-backed protection!

For more information on how you can take advantage of these excellent savings on both new boats and new motors, contact your local Parker Boats Sales Associates (Daytona or Orlando). We look forward to helping you take advantage of these specials and getting you out on the water in 2010! Thanks again for considering Parker Boats for all your boating needs!

The Parker Boats staff

2010 Getaways Announced

2010-01-15T09:44:00.005-05:00

Parker Boats is proud to announce its schedule of Getaways for the 2010 season! We have some excellent trips planned for our Parker Boats family, friends and boat owners, and we do hope that you will take the time to join us! This year, once the water warms back up, we will be heading to some great locations, including: Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Silver Glen near Ocala, St.Augustine, the Abacos, Bimini and of course, our favorite local haunt, Disappearing Island in Ponce Inlet.

You can find a detailed schedule of the trips, the organizers and any informational meetings that we will be having about each on our website, under Club Trips. Here is a quick reference calendar if you wish print it off for your boat's calendar! Hope to see you for at least one event.

Here are some great photos from our 2009 trips to Bimini and St. Augustine, to see what kind of fun/trouble we like to get into. Enjoy!

Thanks again to everyone that joined us for our many events during the 2009 boating season. We hope that you had as much fun as we did, and will be sure to include us in your plans for 2010. If you have any questions about how to become active with our Parker Boats Getaways (first-timers pay attention here...), then feel free to call us at either location and we will be happy to fill in the blanks! Thanks again for being part of the Parker Boats family, see you on the water!

The Parker Boats staff

2009-2010 CCA Dinner

2010-01-11T23:27:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures from the Coastal Conservation dinner where Parker Boats was a sponsor and was honored for our continued commitment to protecting our local waterways from dangerous intrusion, destruction and removal. Thanks to CCA for a great event!

Florida updates Boating Safety Education Requirements

2010-01-06T10:16:00.000-05:00

Recently, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission updated their posted Boating Safety Regulations to include specific requirements for anyone piloting a boat in Florida waters under the age of 22-years old. With an increase in the last few years in the number of boating safety accidents and violations by these boaters under the age of 22-years old, the FWC now requires anyone operating a boat to complete an approved boating safety course and have in their possession a photo ID and Boating Safety Education card issued by the FWC. Here are the specific "updated" regulations as defined on the FWC website:

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course and have in his/her possession photographic identification and a boating safety education identification card issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The following operators are exempt:
- A person licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.
- A person operating on a private lake or pond.
- An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is least 18 years old and possesses the required Boating Safety Education Identification Card, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
- An operator who is accompanied onboard by a person who is exempt from the educational requirements, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.
- A non-resident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another state.
- A person who is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel, provided they have available for inspection aboard that vessel, a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.
Additional information and boating regulations can be found here: My FWC

The new Florida boater regulations for the Boater ID card can be obtained either by taking the mail-in test in the Boat Smart magazine (free) or by taking the test online at http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/index.htm ($29.50)

New Model: Grady White 230 Fisherman

2009-12-15T11:18:00.002-05:00

As we come to the end of the year, we always find ourselves looking forward to next season. Not only do we think about the trips we have planned, the friends we will see on the water and the fun we know we always have but we also start thinking about the new models coming out from our brands.

One of the newest models that we are very excited about is the new 230 Fisherman from Grady White. This new center-console fishing boat is perfect for both inshore and offshore trips, tooling around your favorite fishing spots and crusing to your favorite hidden islands. Here are some early pictures direct from our friends at Grady White:

We expect that you will begin to see the 230 Fisherman at our Daytona location by late February/early March 2010 and we are looking forward to showing of its capabilities, features and styles to all of our Parker Boats clients then. Look for more information and demo event notifications on our facebook page next year. If you aren't already our facebook friend, please be sure to add us now!

Thanks again and Happy Holidays from Parker Boats!

Fall Service Recommendations

2009-11-23T18:00:00.002-05:00

The seasons are upon us. Summer and Fall have come and gone, the days are shorter and the nights longer. As a Florida boat owner, it is now time to winterize your boat and get it into storage if possible. We here at Parker Boats hope that this article provides a few tips and tricks for ensuring a safe season for your watercraft while waiting for its next outing.

Before you start researching storage options (dry, rack, self-store, your cousins yard...) take some time to find a good checklist of things to do prior to putting your favorite water toy away. There are hundreds of excellent articles and actual lists available on the internet, so find one you like and run with it. Here are some that we like:

Although most of them are very complete, you should always modify the boat storage checklist that you choose with some of your own custom steps or information that is specific to your particular make and model of boat. Be sure to also take into consideration the weather where you live whenever you are planning to put your craft into boat storage for the season.

If it has been all season you gave the old "once over" to your boat, take the time to:

correct and repair any dings, cracks, etc on your boat before putting it into boat storage for the season.
always give it a good and thorough cleaning - no mess now means no smell later
change your fluids and top off fuel with stabilizer
schedule any needed repairs or service prior to storage - get to use it faster in spring

How and where you will store your boat is an important decision. If you dont live on the water and/or have access to a wet slip all-year, your choices include exterior storage or climate controlled storage. Personally, my preference is to store my boat indoors in a climate controlled storage environment even though it is more expensive. It affords the boat much more protection that simply covering it and leaving it outside in the elements. By keeping the boat indoors, it is totally protected from anything that nature can throw at it.

If you are leaving your boat outside, be sure to check all your coverings and tarps for tears, leaks, etc. Be sure to lube all your clasps, buttons and zippers on the boat with a good lubricant. Head to your local marine store or visit the Parker Boats online store for any repair kits, replacement parts or protection products you might need.

We hope that this post has given you some good tips and starting points for your Fall service needs. If you have any questions, concerns or comments about how to prepare your vessel for seasonal storage or if you have something to add, we would love to hear your comments. As an added bonus, Parker Boats Service department is running a Fall Special with savings on our Annual/100 hour service and our Annual Service Plus service packages. There is also a 10% off coupon for our store for your marine products needs.

Parker Boats named to Top 100 list

2009-11-23T17:44:00.004-05:00

For the third year in a row, the Parker Boats company has been named to the Top 100 list released by the Boating Industry magazine. For 2009, Parker Boats placed in the 21st position out of the Top 100 boat dealers nationally. Recently, Boating Industry magazine discussed the criteria which they rank boating dealers nationally:

While the numbers this elite group posts are impressive, indeed, the Top 100 is not merely a ranking of the largest, volume-driven dealers. Rather, it recognizes those marine dealers that are unsurpassed in overall business operations, customer service, marketing and professionalism. Collectively, the 2009 Boating Industry Top 100 employ nearly 4,247 people and operate 269 retail locations across North America.

“While most industry awards are given to those dealers that sell the most boats, our Top 100 program is much more qualitatively focused,” said Matt Gruhn, Editor-in-Chief of Boating Industry, “thereby leveling the playing field for all dealers and directing consumers to those dealers that can best deliver on the dream that boat ownership promises.”

The 2009 Top 100 Dealers: Click Here

To help bring the Boating Industry Top 100 to life, Affinity Media, the magazine’s parent company, created the Leadership Alliance, an elite group of the marine industry’s leading suppliers. These companies were invited to participate because they possess, as one of their corporate values, a true belief in and commitment to raising the bar of professionalism across all marine industry sectors, and particularly for dealers.

The 2009 Leadership Alliance members include: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., GE Capital Solutions, BoatTrader, Volvo Penta, ADP Lightspeed, Manheim Specialty Auctions, Global Marine Insurance Agency and the Marine Retailers Association of America.

We at Parker Boats would like to thank our customers, our employees and our friends for their continued dedication and support to making Parker Boats such as successful company through the years. We will continue to strive to exceed your expectations when it comes to sales, service or family boating experience that we pride ourselves on promoting with you. Thanks again, and see you in 2010!

Boating Safety Resources

2009-11-04T13:16:00.000-05:00

Here is the first of our boating safety series from Parker Boats. This series will include information from many trusted sources including; The United States Coast Guard, Boating Safety Council and The American Boating Association. We will also include some posts from guest authors that we consider to be local experts in boating safety, so look for those in the coming months. It is Parker Boat's commitment to insure that all of our customers and Parker Boat owners are educated and familiar with the most current boating safety methods, tools and equipment so that you can be boating for a long time to come. Thank you!

From United State Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center:

Many boating safety courses are offered throughout the country, for all types of recreational boaters, and for boaters of all ages. Qualified volunteer organizations, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, and others sponsor many courses, and many state boating agencies also provide classes.

Courses cover many aspects of boating safety, from boat handling to reading the weather, and from a "Water 'N Kids" class to courses for boaters who want to learn electronic navigation skills. The most popular basic courses generally have from 6 to 13 lessons to provide a foundation of operational and safety instruction.

American Boat Operators' Course
Offers online boating safety courses with online certification tests for a number of states.

Boat/U.S. Foundation Courseline
The Courseline is a searchable database of current boating safety courses around the nation.

BoatEd
Offers online boating safety courses with online certification tests for a number of states.

BoaterExam.com
Offers online boating safety courses with online certification tests for a number of states.

Boatsafe
Offers an online Basic Boating Certification Course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and a Coastal Navigation Course.

Commander Bob
An award-winning website that advances boating education

PWC Safety School
Offers online courses and certification for PWC operators in several states

Safe Boating America
Safe Boating America classes meet the State Educational Requirements for operating a Boat or PWC and also meet the requirements for a Youth Operator.

State Courses
Many states offer boating safety courses. The National Association of State Boating Boating Law Administrators' online Directory provides contact information for state boating agencies.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Local flotillas offer a variety of safety classes, including basic/introductory boating courses and safety courses, navigation, sailing and personal watercraft safety, among others.

U.S. Sailing
Programs offer instruction in small and large sailboats, windsurfers, and powerboats. All levels of instruction are available around the country for beginner to advanced skills. Information on courses and instruction is available on the web.

United States Power Squadrons®
Sponsors "The Squadron Boating Course," and a second course called "Boat Smart." Also provides information on home-study courses co-sponsored by USPS and the U.S.C.G. Auxiliary.

Dont forget that you can find many of the most current boating safety equipment and tools at either of our retail store locations, or online at our web store. Please feel free to post your comments about this content, offer any recommendations to other readers for trusted sources for boating safety and stories about how following proper boating safety procedure helped you to avoid a serious incident on the water. Thanks for visiting the Parker Boats blog!

Rock N Reel Fishing Tournament

2009-10-27T14:40:00.009-04:00

We had a great turnout for our first annual Rock-n-Reel fishing tournament sponsored by Sunny 105.9. We had the Captain's meeting at the Aquarium restaurant at Halifax Harbor in Daytona. There were a total of 26 boats that participated, and everyone had a great time at the weigh in and the afterparty. Special thanks to Sunny 105.9, and the Aquarium for a job well done!

Parker Boats launches new blog!

2009-10-22T08:52:00.005-04:00

Welcome to our blog!

I’m Brad Parker, the Team Leader at Parker Boats of Daytona. If there’s one thing I enjoy the most, it’s spending time on the water with my family and enjoying the lifestyle that boating has to offer. Boating has been in our family genes ever since my grandfather started the business back in 1927. Boating has provided good experiences and memories for our family, and because of this, we desire to continue sharing this lifestyle with our customers, friends, and family members.

The purpose of this blog is to provide a relevant and resourceful supply of information to our friends and customers in the boating community. We will primarily focus on the following topics: Boating, Safety, Products, Services, and Events. We will be committed to providing regular posts and keeping you informed from the helm as Parker Boats continues to be there for our customers as we move forward in unchartered economic waters. I look forward to our 100 year anniversary in 2027, and I realize that’s only achievable as we focus on YOU first. Thank you, to our customers, for allowing us to be where we are today! I hope you enjoy our new blog!