Sylvan G3 CLZ DC: Luxury for Everyone

By Craig Ritchie

While Canadians may have been slower to warm to pontoon boats than our southern neighbours, that’s definitely changed as we see more of them gracing our waters every year. The latest data shows pontoon boats now represent around 30% of all new boats sold in Canada and it’s easy to understand why – with their interior space and tremendous versatility, pontoons are near-perfect family runabouts.

Take their flat floor and swing-open, dock-height entry gates for instance. These make it easy for passengers of all ages to board or disembark without having to climb over gunnels or seats. There’s way more room to stretch out and get comfortable in a pontoon than there is in a bowrider or a cruiser of equal size. And let’s face it, nothing tops their tremendous versatility – pontoons can fish, go for picnics, pull the kids on a tube or even keep up with the speed boats. Sylvan’s all-new G3 CLZ DC is a great case in point.

For starters, the G3 CLZ DC looks nothing like the traditional pontoon boat, inside or out. Smooth body panels in place of old-school fencing and frames? Check. Sleek walk-through windshield? Check. Available watersports tower? You bet. Powerful engine and jaw-dropping performance? Of course.

Approaching the G3 CLZ DC from the dock, it’s hard to not appreciate just how smooth, sleek and streamlined this boat truly is. Fluid, automotive-style body panels flow seamlessly from stem to stern to give the boat a finished, contemporary look. Stylish LED docking lights neatly accent the boat’s design, and give it a hint of sportscar-like playful aggression. Fibreglass fenders that wrap around the cockpit neatly integrate into the extended swim platform to further contribute to a profile that suggests motion even when tied to the dock.

Once you step inside, of course, as with a luxury automobile, it’s all about the seats.

Up front in the bow, wrap-around loungers offer a great space to stretch out and enjoy the views, whether on the hook or underway. High backrests conceal integrated drink holders and stereo speakers in an appealing and efficient design. Both seat cushions lift, of course, to reveal secure storage spaces in their bases for a range of gear and goodies.

Moving aft through the Sylvan’s stylish walk-through windshield, the driver and companion enjoy high-back, reclining Captain’s chairs with flip-up bolsters and fold-down armrests. Both sit on an elevated platform for enhanced visibility when underway, and both include a swivel base allowing them to rotate and join the fun in the aft cockpit once stopped. The driver’s seat also slides, automotive-style, allowing easy adjustment for operators of all heights and statures. Why can’t all boats offer this?

The fibreglass helm console is neat, efficient and dominated by a flush-mounted Simrad GO7 display. A neat row of      push-button electrical switches to either side of the display control accessories like docking lights, running lights, and the power-operated Bimini top.

That power top is an absolute joy, by the way. Forget the old days of struggling to put up the Bimini – to the point where people would sometimes take the sunburn over the wrestling match. On the G3, you just touch a switch and the top deploys or retracts in seconds with no muss, no fuss. Perfect.

The standard Fasco tilt steering wheel is a nice touch, giving the G3 a sporty feel befitting its sporty performance. SeaStar hydraulic steering comes standard as well.

The passenger console mirrors the helm, with the central top section housing a large glove box for stowing valuables like wallets and keys, with a stainless grab handle located beneath. Both passenger and helm consoles include a discreet Scanstrut cell phone nest with inductive charging.

Look down and between the consoles is a large, in-floor storage locker that’s perfect for stowing bulky items out of the way yet immediately accessible.

The aft cockpit is dominated by a large L-shaped lounge seat that surrounds an attractive, pedestal-mount table with five integrated drink holders. The forward-facing lounge seat back can be flipped to provide aft-facing seating as well, creating an inviting three-wide sun lounge that’s the ideal perch for spotting wakeboarders or just sprawling out to enjoy the day.  A fibreglass console along the port gunnel provides drink holders, a double USB charging port and phone pad, a small panel with lighting controls and a remote for the standard JL Audio MM50 Bluetooth stereo.

The aft-most portion of this lounge seat opens to reveal a large, pop-up change room. This is a great feature, providing a private spot to change out of wet swimwear or, if one prefers, house a Porta-potti for even greater comfort and convenience on the water.

But perhaps the nicest feature of the Sylvan G3 CLZ DC is the standard galley found along the aft starboard gunnel. A stainless-steel grill is available as a popular upgrade, and one that most buyers are going to want. Why eat cold sandwiches when you could enjoy freshly cooked burgers and hot dogs instead? Or steak and lobster, if you’re enterprising enough.

The extended stern swim platform comes with a retractable four-step boarding ladder, of course. Available aft-facing speakers are another popular upgrade.

The Sylvan G3 comes with a tempting options list, allowing buyers to spec the boat exactly as they wish with various flooring choices, underwater lighting packages, a wake tower with racks, and more. What’s more impressive, however, are the standards that come with this boat, reflecting Sylvan’s incredible attention to detail. Things like illuminated drink holders, pop-up cleats, a ski tow point, a dual battery system, mood lighting and multiple cell phone chargers are niceties everyone appreciates, and things most often found on the option list rather than included as standard equipment.

Also standard is Sylvan’s heavy-duty hull and understructure, including: 100-gauge, 25-inch diameter aluminum tubes and a heavy hat channel chassis that combine to give the boat a firm, tight ride. The battleship-like build gives Sylvan the confidence to back the G3 with a lifetime warranty on the hull, and six years of warranty on major components.

Sylvan’s three-tube SPX performance package – yet another standard feature – makes the most of the boat’s ability to handle outboards of up to 300 horsepower with its integral lifting strakes for faster speeds and quicker holeshots. It also means planing times in the range of three seconds, and top speeds approaching 50 mph. Yes, you read that right.

So be forewarned – it’s really easy to like Sylvan’s G3 CLZ DC. If you’re a fan of pontoon boats, you owe it to yourself to go see it up close. And if you’re not a fan of pontoons, then you definitely need to go see this boat. With its elegant design and sporty good looks, exceptional onboard luxury and truly inspiring performance, Sylvan’s G3 CLZ DC is one luxury pontoon that truly stands alone in a crowded market.

Sylvan G3 CLZ DC

Length: 25’ 8” / 7.62 m

Beam: 102” / 3.109 M

Dry weight: 3,150 lbs / 1,428.8 kg

Fuel capacity: 60 gal / 227L

Passenger capacity: 13

Maximum power: 300 hp