The Bennington 18 SFX 2013 vs Bennington 180 S 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bennington 18 SFX 2013 at 18,4 ft versus Bennington 180 S 2004 at 17,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 18 SFX 2013 tips the scales at 1 663 lbs — 1 529 lbs more than the Bennington 180 S 2004 at 134 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 75 hp, the Bennington 180 S 2004 has a 25-hp advantage over the Bennington 18 SFX 2013'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 18 SFX 2013 carries 26 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Bennington 180 S 2004. 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 180 S 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bennington 18 SFX 2013 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 180 S 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 180 S 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 18 SFX 2013 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.