Sylvan takes luxury refinements to a new level with its remarkable M3 CRS.
Sylvan raised a lot of eyebrows when the company introduced its futuristic M-Series pontoon boats with the 2017 model year. With its sleek, newly-designed body, premium interior and standard performance upgrades, the M-Series raised the bar on what a top-of-the-line luxury pontoon should be. Not content to rest on its laurels, the company is pushing the envelope again for the 2019 model year with its immaculate M3 CRS.
This is one pontoon boat that’s clearly designed with entertaining in mind. Twin bow lounge seats are spacious enough to seat four adults in comfort, or let two stretch out and put up their feet when riding facing forward. Storage spaces in the Rotocast seat bases stow an impressive amount of gear, while cup holders integrated right into the seats mean a cold drink is always close at hand. Twin stereo speakers in the seat bases provide excellent sound quality, even when underway. Best of all, you’ll also find thoughtful USB chargers located throughout the boat, providing plenty of spaces from which we can keep those portable devices fully juiced.
Amidships, a versatile L-shaped lounge seat on the port side allows forward-facing, aft-facing or starboard-facing seating around an elegant pedestal-mount table with five integrated drink holders. The Captain’s chair at the helm doesn’t just slide to fit drivers of different heights, it also swivels, allowing the driver to easily join in in the conversation once the anchor’s set. Overhead, a large premium grade Bimini top shades the centre section of the boat. With the top up and the table in place, it’s the ideal spot for drinks or snacks al fresco, all while enjoying a million dollar view.
The driver gets spoiled in the big Sylvan, with a beautifully formed fibreglass helm console on a raised platform for enhanced visibility. The brilliantly designed dash includes all of the expected instrumentation – speedometer, tach, volt meter, trim gauge, fuel gauge and depth gauge – along with an unexpected surprise in the form of a Simrad NSS 7 multi-function display. There’s also a 12-volt power outlet for convenience. The sporty, black-framed windshield does a great job of keeping the wind out of the driver’s eyes in spite of its racy, low profile appearance. Power-assist steering and a sweet Gucci Rondinella steering wheel are thoughtful standard luxuries, as is the standard Kicker KMC 20 AM/FM stereo and its remote touch pad.
Aft of the helm seat, the M3 CRS features a beautifully designed entertaining console complete with a galley, a solid surface counter top and a sink with a faucet. If I were buying this boat I would absolutely order the optional refrigerator and barbecue grill upgrades, making the most of the space and the entertaining options. There’s even an available changing room with a Porta-potti for comfort.
Step aft through the stern gate and onto the M3’s generously proportioned swim platform and there’s even further evidence of this boat’s entertaining intentions. Beyond the big platform, the deck-mounted ski tow and retractable boarding ladder, there’s also a large reclining seat stretched across the transom, representing the perfect spot for swimmers to stretch out and dry off in the sun.
Throughout the boat, Sylvan’s commitment to luxury and comfort are clear. A full smart lighting setup with RGB colour-changing LEDs include lighted cup holders and courtesy lights, concealed mood lighting, docking lights and Babbito underwater lighting – all standard. Also standard is Sylvan’s legendary SPX PR25 performance package, which means this boat goes as sweet as it shows.
By Craig Ritchie