SEE THE
VIDEO
SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1000 4.26 4.90 1.20 3.55 4.08 208 239 0 60
1500 5.82 6.70 2.10 2.77 3.19 162 187 1 66
2000 8.95 10.30 3.40 2.63 3.03 154 177 2 69
2500 12.86 14.80 4.90 2.62 3.02 154 177 2 74
3000 16.25 18.70 6.30 2.58 2.97 151 174 1 73
3500 19.38 22.30 8.30 2.33 2.69 137 157 1 74
4000 23.11 26.60 10.80 2.14 2.46 125 144 1 73
4500 26.85 30.90 14.10 1.90 2.19 111 128 1 76
5000 31.28 36.00 18.80 1.66 1.91 97 112 1 78
5500 35.54 40.90 24.40 1.46 1.68 85 98 1 78
5800 36.58 42.10 26.00 1.41 1.62 82 95 1 79
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEEDHigh Points
XFront deck is raised a full 4 inches
above the interior fl oor, promising
greater performance in rough-
water conditions.
XStandard features include Kicker
KMC20 AM/FM stereo with MP3
and USB ports, subwoofer and am-
plifi er; RGB interior color-changing
lighting; changing room; and Bimini
top with boot.Specs
· LOA: 26'10" · BEAM: 8'6"
· DRY WEIGHT: 4,300 lb. · SEATING/
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 14/1,940 lb.
· FUEL CAPACITY: 60 gal.How We Tested
ENGINE: Yamaha F300
PROP: Yamaha Saltwater Series II
151 / 2 " x 16" 3-blade stainless steel
GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1
FUEL LOAD: 52 gal.
CREW WEIGHT: 155 lb.
Price
$139,999 (as tested)SYLVAN
M5 LZ DC
console waits a pivoting captain’s chair
with fl ip-down armrests. Aft, two more
couches with aft-facing backrests round
out the accommodations. Roto-molded
stowage is found below nearly all seating,
as well as within both consoles.
As to performance, the M5 LZ DC we
tested was equipped with a Yamaha F300
outboard, which pushed the boat onto
plane with nary a touch of bow rise before
topping out at a 42.1 mph top speed. Cor-
nering ability, as well as overall ride, was
enhanced by Sylvan’s SPX performance
package, which consists of a trio of three
25-inch pontoons, featuring a combina-
tion of lifting strakes on the center tube,
performance foils inside each outer log,
and an underdeck wave shield.Fiberglass is increasingly making its way
into the latest versions of pontoon boats
produced by the industry’s leading makers,
but the Sylvan M5 LZ DC arguably takes
the trend to new extremes. At fi rst glance,
this is obvious in the sleek molded fi ber-
glass panels that replace any
hint of the old standard-issue
aluminum fencing. Forward,
fi berglass extends around
the front corners of the bow
and continues down onto the
bow deck, even wrapping out
and over the tip of each pon-
toon’s nose cone. Amidships,
fi berglass forms two raised
consoles, each capped with
its own unique and protective
raked windscreen. Aft, fi ber-
glass completes the perimeter
enclosure, wrapping around
dual lounges with aft-facing
seat backs and continuing toextend down the length of the deck plat-
form. Occasionally, it can seem purely for
aesthetic value; each console features a
slender, swooping horizontal arch that
wraps around the occupant and extends
down the fence side. At other times, that fi -
berglass’ function has to be revealed. Pivot
the aft portside bench backrest over and an
optional sink rotates into view, complete
with faucet, Corian countertop, and wine-
bottle holders below.
Style may be omnipresent, but pontoon
tradition still carries the day aboard the
Sylvan M5 LZ DC. Forward, twin 5-foot-
8-inch-long lounges run along the port
and starboard sides, providing comfort-
able seating for your crew. Behind eachPHOTOS: BILL DOSTERSYLVAN MARINE
New Paris, Indiana; 866-766-9698; sylvanmarine.comTo watch our
video review
of the M5 LZ
DC, scan this
tag or visit
boatingmag
.com/bbg18/
sylvanm5.
C
CERTIFIED
TEST
RESULTSBOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2018 | 108 | BOATINGMAG.COMPONTOON BOAT BUYERS GUIDE