I have very kindly been given temporary access to your forum as I am seriously considering a 325 as my next boat.

My journey with boats has been complex over the last few years as I desperately wanted my wife to enjoy boating as much as I do. I have had sail boats and motor boats but despite owning some very nice boats, its just not for her. As such, my Nimbus Motorboat is up for sale. Last year, once this was all agreed, I purchased a Hunter Horizon 23 with Yanmar inboard as a stop gap.

I am member of the Hunter Boats club and am obviously well aware of the other models of British Hunter available to me. The Horizon was just a stop gap to keep me being able to sail. I have owned a couple of bigger twin keel boats previously and am again now looking to get something a bit bigger. 30-33 ft, but something I can sail single handed.

So, the reason for coming on here is I have a few questions and hoped you Parker experts might be able to help me.

I sail on the East Coast (from Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on Naze, or sometimes Brightlingsea). I do go to places that deep fin keels can’t and I do sometimes dry out for the night. I wanted my next boat to do this, but I also wanted a few luxuries and finding something that ticks all the boxes is tricky.

1. Wheel steering

2. Bow Thruster

3. 6ft+ headroom

4. Drying Out.

A had never had a boat with bow thruster before, until I got my Nimbus 320 (now for sale), but oh my goodness, what a difference it makes in tight marinas. I really would like my next sail boat to have one.

I have to crouch down in the little Horizon and it hurts my back. I am 6ft tall.

The other points are self-explanatory I think.

When searching for boats that tick these boxes. Sadly none of the bigger Hunters had wheel steering. A few Moody's do. Then I came away from Bilge keels and started looking at Lifting keels. I would guess in theory its as good as a bilge keel or maybe better as the amount of water required is less if the keel is up.

I actually found a boat on Apolloduck called Dancer and I see the owner is a member here and the boat is also advertised on here.

Whilst having a browse around this forum, I see an alarming amount of posts about electric lifting keels, problems and servicing. To the point I am starting to wonder if I am actually on the wrong track and should go back to bilge keels. Perhaps some 325/335 owners can help me?

Would a 325 tick all my boxes?

I am not a club racer, I am looking for a comfortable cruiser.

I have a Yanmar 1gm10 engine in the Horizon and it struggles at times against wind / current. Do you fine the 325 engine to be sufficient?

That’s all I can think of for now. Thank you again for letting me in to the forum to discuss with the community.

Andy

If you want to have a look at a 335, which is essentially the same boat as the 325, you are welcome to come to have a look at ours which is ashore at Brightlingsea. So far as the hydraulic lifting keel goes, my personal view is that it requires about 2-3hours maintenance a year plus having the ram serviced about once in ten years (cost around £200-250 in 2023). We have had problems once in 15 years and that was because I did not get the ram serviced soon enough.

Martin

335/50 Tringa

That is very kind of you and if you dont mind it would be very helpful to meet with you and look at your boat. My understanding is that the 325 and 335 are very similar?

If you are planning to visit the yard anytime soon, please let me know. I would much prefer this, so that you do not have to make a special trip just for me.

I have sent you a PM with my contact details as I don't want to post them here.

Martin

Many thanks, I have spotted it.

I will give you a call over the weekend, if thats ok?

Andy

We have a 325 and it is currently out of the water at Ipswich Beacon Marina. It will be slightly different to the 335 as it has a tiller not a wheel, but does have a bow thruster. Again, you are welcome to visit if it is convenient.

Best wishes,

Dennis and Anne Kell

Arenaria P325/21

The other issue can be with the keel indicator. The potentiometer has just died, and I've bought a replacement for about £15. Old school though is a length of shock cord attached to the top of the keel! Hydraulics haven't been a problem; just keep the compartment rust-free. There is a manual back-up!

Great boats - they've taken me across the Channel, Isles of Scilly, French Canals and of course the East Coast. The boat was based at Fosdyke and is now in the River Medina on the Isle of Wight.

Good luck with your search, John

After many months, my motorboat has finally sold and I am back in the market (hopefully) for a Parker 325/335.

I thought it best to continue with my original thread, I hope thats ok.

It would seem I have my selection down to just a few boats now and I would be interested to hear the forums opinion.

Locally there is a Beneteau Oceanis 311 Clipper LK and there is the 325 (Dancer) advertised in Weymouth (5 hours away by car).

The Ben is manual lift keel (100 turns I am told). The layout internally is perhaps slightly better as the keel box is a lot smaller. But from my own research, it appears the Parker is a far superior boat for saling.

Now I am not a racer and will never be one. But I also dont want a slug.

Can anyone help give me constructive views of these two boats.

I am hoping to finally meet up with Martin from the forum as his boat is only a couple of miles away and that visit may well answer some of my questions.

MartinH was very kind to show me his lovely 335, Tringa yesterday. Martin, I can not thank you enough for answering all my questions.

What an amazing community you have here at the PSSA. I am not even a member yet and the community is going above and beyond.

My plan is to try and buy Dancer, the 325 in Weymouth. I need to arrange a trip to see her in person. I will also need to find a local Surveyor as Michael Horwood isn't able to do it. He has been very helpful via email with things I should look out for. Hopefully I my next post will be introducing myself as a new member. I just need to hope that Dancer hasn't deteriorated too much from sitting in a marina with little use for the last 3 years.

I looked at Dancer and was very disappointed spray hood and sail covers need replacing only some of the instruments worked. All the running rigging needs changing.

Thought I would come back with a reply as I only have a couple more days of temp access to your forum.

I finally got round to viewing Dancer yesterday. Its a horrible journey from Essex to Weymouth, terrible traffic both ways.

So Dancer as you quite rightly say Paul is looking a bit unloved, but you can also see that it was once someones pride and joy.

Quite a bit of time and money needs to be spent to get Dancer to a modern boat standard that I am looking for.

The bit that shocked me the most was that she doesn't have a windlass! I can't believe previous owners have been manually using what appeared to be quite a big anchor. I am still considering buying her, but the project is a bit bigger than I originally thought and that's just from my observations. I haven't had a survey yet, so there could be more.

A broker down the road from me has a very nice Beneteau 311 LK, everything ready to go. Part of me says this is the sensible choice. But it sure would be rewarding to get Dancer back to her former glory and I would ultimately have a better sailing boat than the Ben 311 once all the work is complete.

Hopefully I will know more later and will post back. My access expires at the end of Nov.

Andy

Next stage will be a survey, unfortunately with Michael Horwood currently out of action, I have reached out to another surveyor local to where the boat is. Although I have to say that Michael has been super helpful, giving me advice via email. (A true gentleman).

I have accepted that Dancer is a bit of a project, so as long as the survey doesn't turn up anything nasty, its looking like I will be your newest member 😀