Parker 21 and 235
Parker 21
Parker 21 Forum
The Parker 21 was the smallest of the Parker boats, designed as a high performance trailer sailer. Parker 21s are now only
available second hand as it is no longer built but support and spares are still available from Parker Lift Keel Yachts .
The last one, number 100, was built in 1998 and delivered to a buyer in Holland). The Parker 21 has been replaced by the
235HS (High Specification).
|
LOA |
21'0" (6.40m)
|
Gross Displacement
|
1950 lbs (884 kg)
|
|
LWL |
18'9" (5.72m)
|
Ballast |
800 lbs (363 kg)
|
|
Beam |
8'2" (2.49m)
|
Sail Area |
220 sq ft (20.45 sq m) |
|
Draft - keel down
|
3'9" (1.14m) |
Draft - keel up |
10" (0.25m)
|
This was the original brochure:
Trailer sailers have always had a lot to offer the weekend sailor. The freedom to choose different sailing waters,lack of
marina charges, 'en-route' accommodation etc. But there has usually been a price to pay in terms of performance and difficulties
with rigging and launching. The Parker 21 sets new standards of trailer sailer excellence - both ashore and afloat.
Brilliant handing ashore
On the road she's impeccably mannered behind a medium sized family car. The galvanised purpose-built trailer is low slung
and ultra-stable with powerful brakes. We've designed a foolproof system to remove the terrors of putting up the mast. By
rigging the spinnaker pole with a simple tackle, the mast is raised effortlessly from the cockpit, simply by winding a winch.
Launching and recovery are simple with a totally retractable lift keel - no bulb skeg or bilge keels to locate. The Parker
21 floats clear of her trailer in knee deep water and always tracks back into the contoured cradle.
Exceptionable Stability
Once underway you'll quickly appreciate the enormous gap between the Parker 21 and more conventional trailer sailers. Her
stability is uncanny. Two adults standing on the midship gunwale create less than 10o of heel with the keel up and in this
mode the Parker 21 is only drawing 10" of water. The distribution of interior ballast reinforces the bottom for a safe,
flat drying out and esures safe keel up stability when left on exposed drying moorings.
Performance and Handling
She's as light as a feather on the helm. Tacks fast and accelerates rapidly to the lightest puff of air. Her underwater
shape, with its very fine entry for knifing upwind, and broad flat floor and modest rocker give power, stability and breathtaking
offwind speed.
Sophisticated Rig and Controls
The rig delivers plenty of power to Parker's pedigree hull and all control lines and halyards are of course led to the cockpit,
including the2 mainsail reef points, for easy and safe short-handed sailing.
Auxiliary Power
Should you need it, an outboard engine can be mounted in the special well in the cockpit. The hull is easily driven by a
4-6 hp engine and the mounting bracket can accommodate either long or short shaft outboard engines.
Lift Keel Versatility
The Parker 21 Lift Keel system is the key to this remarkable Yacht, Starting with its construction - the specially laminated,
one-piece GRP box is full height and heavily reinforced to the hull. This adds tremendous strength to the hull and deck
for carrying rig loads.
Below deck the keel box fits neatly between the chart table/galley unit and the fore cabin entrance. The keel box has no
lifting tackle or devices below deck to give maximum interior comfort.
The multi-block tackle, which raises the hydrodynamically sectioned low centre of gravity 450 lb. keel, is controlled from
the cockpit winch for easy and safe short-handed sailing.The safety feature of being able to reduce the yacht's draft quickly
adds to its versatility, whether she's powering round the race course or feeling her way gently up narrow creeks on the
flood tide.
Family sized cockpit
The 6' 10" long, spacious cockpit can comfortably accommodate four people and has a large cabin hatchway The large cockpit
locker provides plenty of stowage space for all your sails and equipment Wide side decks, with cabin side safety handholds,
make going forward an easy, safe operation.
Buoyancy safety features
The internal module structures are designed to incorporate 4 large airtight buoyancy chambers around the yacht to make it
unsinkable or, with an optional extra, these chambers can be foam filled.
Below Deck
Designed for family comfort, the light airy cabin has a surprising amount of open plan space, attractive, low maintenance
modules with varnished teak bulkheads and cupboards; vinyl upholstery make a high quality interior finish. The accommodation
has a forward 6'2" long 'v' berth with lower lockers and recessed toilet space. Between the keel box is a chart table lid
which, when lifted, reveals a practical galley with stainless steel sink pump and tank; and lots of storage space, with
optional gas hob unit. The main saloon comfortably seats 4 people around the removable teak pedestal table. The saloon berths
are a spacious 6' 4" x 30" wide with storage shelf above. Below the entrance steps provides ample cool storage for provisions,
etc.
Here's an even earlier one, an order form and a report from Yachting World in April 97:
|
|
Parker 21 no 17 Altair was used for the cover photo of the Feb 2011 issue of
Practical Boat Owner. The issue included a review of 17 mini-cruisers and had this to say:
The Parker 21 was another trailer-sailer to derive its origins directly from the Mini-Ton class. Ron Holland
was approached by John Baker (founder of the Seal dynasty) to design the Mini-Seal. This yacht had a pronounced IOR stern
and measurement 'bumps' and - although undoubtedly quick - never sold in numbers. But when Bill Parker bought up John Baker's
range, he took a saw to the Mini-Seal's stern overhang, added a transom-mounted ruder, amended the roof, tweaked the lines
a bit, inserted a lifting keel, tidied up the interior and - hey presto - the Parker 21 was born. This nippy little lifting
keeler immediately caught on. Its four-berth interior was simple but ideal for weekend pottering and club racing.
Reproduced with kind permission of IPC Media
|
Parker 235 Forum
The Parker 235 Mini Cruiser
The Trailer Sailer has a lot to offer the week or weekend sailors freedom to choose different and quieter sailing localities
lack of marina charges and enroute accommodation, but there has usually been a price to pay in terms of performance, trailing
and difficulties in rigging and launching and internal accommodation. The P235 sets new standards of trailer sailer excellence
both on shore and afloat.
The design features all round sparkling sailing performance which is achieved by having a long waterline, beamy hull form
stability, this combined with a deep low centre of gravity keel gives great stability for offshore safety and sea keeping,
with its unique lift keel system led back to the cockpit winch the yacht can be moored with its keel raised in shallow waters
and still have remarkable stability. The 235 can dry out on mud, sand or gravel and sit completely upright for all round
comfort aboard.
It has easy handling ashore with its 12” draft and flattish bottom to launch and recover from the custom built trailer.
Mast raising & lowering
The mast can be raised effortlessly from the cockpit by using coachroof winch connected to a purchase tackle system.
Style & Accommodation
With its sporty external looks it has a surprising amount of internal accommodation and volume, below decks there is a large
roomy main saloon with 2 berths and comprehensive galley and provisional storage located around the keel box on the starboard
side. On the portside there is a separate head compartment with hand basin and forward is a very large forepeak locker with
hanging facilities, sealed buoyancy chambers below in the aft section thwartship double berth with further storage locker.
Auxiliary Power
A 5hp or 6hp short shaft outboard can be mounted in the cockpit well under the tiller for easy, safe power control, when
required the engine can be lifted into the well and sit on the outboard aperture fairing plug to reduce sailing drag and
keep the engine out of the water when left on the mooring.
|
LOA |
23' 5" (7.14m)
|
Gross Displacement
|
1380 kgs
|
|
LWL |
20'9" (6.37m)
|
Ballast |
330 kgs
|
|
Beam |
8'4" (2.54m)
|
Sail Area |
270 sq ft
|
|
Draft - keel down
|
4'6" (1.37m) |
Draft - keel up |
12" (0.30m)
|
|
RCD category
|
'C' Inshore
|
|
|
Articles
A new boat - Stephen Godber's description of how he took his new 235 up
to Mull, and the first launch.
Arawa's Maiden Cruise
Photos
There is a good selection of photos of the 235 at the 2007 Rutland rally.