When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 and the Bennington 205E 2008 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 17 SLi 2011 measures 17,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 15,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 205E 2008 at 2,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 205E 2008 tips the scales at 2 194 lbs — 703 lbs less than the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 at 1 491 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 Bennington 205E 2008 tops out at 23 hp. Engine specs for the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 205E 2008 is rated for 23 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 205E 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 205E 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 23 passengers and at 2,0 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.