Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 vs Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 or the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 1,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 and Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 24 gallons and 24 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 and Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 and the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 are built by Sylvan. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 vs Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012

Sylvan

Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005

2005

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Sylvan

Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 vs Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 vs Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 has a 25-hp advantage over the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeSylvan

Model8522 Mirage Fish

ModelMirage Fish 820 4-PT

Model Year2005

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam102 in

Beam96 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches102

Beam - Inches96

Weight - Detail1,740 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg789.25

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.174

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet22

Length - Feet20.83

Length - Inches3

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 3 in

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Meters6.78

Length overall - Meters6.35

Length overall - Inches267

Length overall - Inches25

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge.080 in

Tube gaugenot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max115 hp

Engine max90 hp

Engine makenot available

Engine makeMercury

Engine modelnot available

Engine model40 ELPT EFI

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,200 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people14

Maximum peoplenot available

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 vs Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 or the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 comes in at 20,8 feet, making it roughly 1,2 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 is certified for 6. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 and Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 24 gallons and 24 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 and Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 and the Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 are built by Sylvan. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Sylvan 8522 Mirage Fish 2005 full specs ← Sylvan Mirage Fish 820 4-PT 2012 full specs