Looking at purchasing a new Sylvan 8520 any thougts

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Major Nine
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:32 am
Location: Beaver Lake - Nebraska

Looking at purchasing a new Sylvan 8520 any thougts

#1 Post by Major Nine » Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:55 pm

Hello I am a first time Pontoon purchaser I have had a boat for 25 years but no pontoons. Looking for recomendations. I have been seriously looking at a Sylvan 8520 LE with Yamaha power

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rob28
Posts: 160
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 8:35 am
Location: Dryden, Ontario. In the wilderness.

Re: Looking at purchasing a new Sylvan 8520 any thougts

#2 Post by rob28 » Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:20 pm

Big thumbs up from me. :biggrin2 :biggrin2

We got ours last year and love it. It has a Merc 50 on the back and we top out at about 18mph - good enough for us on our lake.
Build quality has been good so far with no issues to report.
We've added an hour meter, fish finder, new ladder ( the nice chrome one from PontoonStuff) and I now have the parts to add a second battery with the Blue Sea Add-a-battery kit - I'm paranoid about being left stranded with a flat battery. Just need a dry few days. Also, under deck LED lighting will be happening at some point in the future.

We looked at all the brands at a couple of big boat shows and while I was tempted originally by a Bennington due to their reputation, the bang for buck with the Sylvan is quite impressive. Plus the fact they look damn good too is just a bonus.

Our boat viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16246
Used to be a 2013 Sylvan Mirage Cruise 8520 LE powered by a Merc 50 Bigfoot.
Now we have a 2019 Sylvan Mirage 8522 DLZ LE powered by a Yamaha VF150..
2010 F-150 4.6L to haul it around.
You'll find us enjoying life on the Wabigoon.

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DRock
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:24 am
Location: Durham, NC

Re: Looking at purchasing a new Sylvan 8520 any thougts

#3 Post by DRock » Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:03 pm

My parents have a 8520 with the Rpt toons and Yamaha 115 four stroke and it's a nice rig. It'll run about 40 mph which is pretty impressive to me. It's also pretty wild watching a 2 tube pontoon on plane with the front completely out of the water. If I were considering buying a new pontoon, a Sylvan with RPT tubes would be at or near the top of my list.
2006 20' Odyssey 220C. 2006 Mercury 90 4s. Underskinned, jackplate. 13.5x15 SS prop. 31mph gps
2001 F150 5.4 Super cab short bed 4x4
2013 F150 Ecoboost. Crew cab short bed 4x4

Bamaman
Posts: 3679
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: Looking at purchasing a new Sylvan 8520 any thougts

#4 Post by Bamaman » Mon Jun 30, 2014 6:59 am

And as they all say: Get as large a motor as you can afford.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

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