Our family pontoon boat experience all started when my father in law bought a Sylvan 8520 Mirage Cruise-N-Fish for their lake cabin in Minnesota. A great platform for family cruising, waterskiing and fishing, this boat has provided many summers of fun with many more to come!
Sylvan pontoon boats are a great boat for young families or anyone who likes to fish and cruise in comfort. But this isn’t your grandfather’s pontoon boat. With the 115 HP Yamaha Marine outboard, this boat will cruise at 20 miles per hour!
Like with all things though, a boat that is made primarily for family cruising will make compromises when it comes to fishing. The biggest drawback for anglers will be the lack of standing room on the bow or the boat, and the lack of a place to mount a trolling motor. Other issues include a lack of fish finding sonar, and minimal rod and tackle storage. But where this boat may lack for serious anglers, it more than makes up for in family comfort and function. This boat is great at exploring the waterways, hosting family picnics on the water and pulling waterskiers, and tubing! Check out our video review below and see if you think a family pontoon boat like the Sylvan Cruise-N-Fish would make a good fishing boat for you! For more information on Sylvan pontoon boats, visit their website.
If a pontoon boat specifically designed for fishing is more your thing, check out our Sylvan 8520 Mirage 4PT, a boat laid out with the angler in mind! We have further modified the boat to make it a fantastic fishing machine!
