The Bennington 168 L 2005 vs Bennington 2874RLi 2010 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 2874RLi 2010 measures 30,2 feet overall (2010), giving it roughly 14,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 168 L 2005 at 16,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2874RLi 2010 tips the scales at 3 881 lbs - 2 476 lbs less than the Bennington 168 L 2005 at 1 405 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 60 hp, the Bennington 168 L 2005 has a 58-hp advantage over the Bennington 2874RLi 2010's 2-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 168 L 2005 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Bennington 2874RLi 2010 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 168 L 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 168 L 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 8 passengers and at 16,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2874RLi 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.