Bennington 17 SLi 2011 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 17 SLi 2011
2011
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VS
Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005
2005
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Bennington 17 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 17 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 is rated for 8 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 2875 RLX I/O 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 28,0 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.
General Boat Info
MakeBennington
MakeBennington
Model17 SLi
Model2875 RLX I/O
Model Year2011
Model Year2005
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in
Beam8 ft. 6 in
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches102
Weight - Detail1,491 lbs
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg676.31
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.1491
Weight - lbs.not available
Length [deck]15 ft. 11 in
Length [deck]27 ft. 11 in
Length - Feet17.42
Length - Feet28
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 5 in
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Meters5.31
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Inches209
Length overall - Inches336
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialnot available
Hull typePontoon
Hull typenot available
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameter23 in
Tube diameter25 in
Tube gauge0.08 in
Tube gauge.090 in
Number of tubes2
Number of tubesnot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail15 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. w/remote fill
Fuel tank capacity - Liters56.78
Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42
Fuel tank capacity - Gal15
Fuel tank capacity - Gal26
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typenot available
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeI/O
Operational Info
Maximum capacity825 lbs
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people5
Maximum peoplenot available

Bennington 17 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 or the Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005?
The Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Bennington 17 SLi 2011 comes in at 17,4 feet, making it roughly 10,6 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Bennington 17 SLi 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?
Both the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 and Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 or the Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005?
The Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 has the bigger tank at 26 gallons, versus 15 gallons on the Bennington 17 SLi 2011. That 11-gallon difference translates to roughly 33–55 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 and Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bennington 17 SLi 2011 and the Bennington 2875 RLX I/O 2005 are built by Bennington. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.