Bennington 180 EL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 180 EL 2004 or the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017?

The Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bennington 180 EL 2004 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 8,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 is rated to a maximum of 350 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 180 EL 2004 tops out at 50 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 180 EL 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 is certified for 7. 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.

Q: Are the Bennington 180 EL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 180 EL 2004 and the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 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.

Boat Comparison

Bennington 180 EL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017

Bennington

Bennington 180 EL 2004

2004

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Bennington

Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017

2017

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 180 EL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 180 EL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 350 hp, the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 has a 300-hp advantage over the Bennington 180 EL 2004's 50-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 180 EL 2004 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 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 EL 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 180 EL 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 2550 RSFB 2017 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Makenot available

Model180 EL

Modelnot available

Model Year2004

Model Yearnot available

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft

Beamnot available

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail1,440 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg653.17

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.144

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet25

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Detail25.00 ft

Length overall - Meters5.46

Length overall - Meters7.62

Length overall - Inches215

Length overall - Inches300

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in

Tube diameternot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Drive typeOutBoard

Drive typenot available

Engine max50 hp

Engine maxnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal48

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters181.7

Engine makenot available

Engine makeYahama

Horsepowernot available

Horsepower350 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeOther

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,200 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people9

Maximum peoplenot available

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity12

Boat typenot available

Boat typePower

Bennington 180 EL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 180 EL 2004 or the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017?

The Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bennington 180 EL 2004 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 8,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 is rated to a maximum of 350 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 180 EL 2004 tops out at 50 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 180 EL 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 is certified for 7. 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.

Are the Bennington 180 EL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 180 EL 2004 and the Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 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.

← Bennington 180 EL 2004 full specs ← Bennington 2550 RSFB 2017 full specs