The Bennington 17 SL 2012 vs Bennington 257 L 2004 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 257 L 2004 measures 24,0 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 6,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 17 SL 2012 at 17,4 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 17 SL 2012 tips the scales at 1 491 lbs — 1 279 lbs more than the Bennington 257 L 2004 at 212 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 125 hp, the Bennington 257 L 2004 has a 75-hp advantage over the Bennington 17 SL 2012's 50-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington 257 L 2004 carries 26 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Bennington 17 SL 2012. 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 257 L 2004 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 17 SL 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 257 L 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 257 L 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 17 SL 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.