Both the Bennington 165Ei 2008 and the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 are pontoon designs, both built in aluminium, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Bennington 165Ei 2008 at 16,0 ft versus Bennington 17 SLi 2011 at 17,4 ft. At 1 465 lbs and 1 491 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The Bennington 165Ei 2008 carries a rated maximum of 50 hp. Engine data for the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 wasn't available in our records - check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 165Ei 2008 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 165Ei 2008 could be the deciding factor.
One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 2 aluminum tubes at 23" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched - the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 165Ei 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 7 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 17 SLi 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.