The Bennington 165Ei 2009 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2006 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 measures 25,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 9,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 165Ei 2009 at 16,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 165Ei 2009 tips the scales at 1 375 lbs — 1 113 lbs more than the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 at 262 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 2 hp for the Bennington 165Ei 2009 and 2 hp for the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 carries 26 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Bennington 165Ei 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Bennington 165Ei 2009 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 comes in at 131 lbs per hp versus 688 lbs per hp for the Bennington 165Ei 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 is an inflatable design — lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Bennington 165Ei 2009 is a rigid hull, which typically offers a more confident ride in chop and easier maintenance over the long term.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 165Ei 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.