Bennington 180 ES 2004 vs Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the Bennington 180 ES 2004 or the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008?

The Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Bennington 180 ES 2004 comes in at 15,0 feet, making it roughly 13,0 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 180 ES 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 ES 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is certified for 15. 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: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Bennington 180 ES 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Bennington 180 ES 2004 and Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bennington 180 ES 2004 and the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 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 ES 2004 vs Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008

Bennington

Bennington 180 ES 2004

2004

View full specs →

Bennington

Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008

2008

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 180 ES 2004 vs Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 180 ES 2004 vs Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 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 320 hp, the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 has a 270-hp advantage over the Bennington 180 ES 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 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Bennington 180 ES 2004 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 15 passengers and at 28,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 180 ES 2004 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

Model180 ES

Model2875RLTD I/O

Model Year2004

Model Year2008

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft.

Beam8 ft. 6 in.

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches96

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,375 lbs.

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg623.69

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.1375

Weight - lbs.not available

Length - Feet15

Length - Feet28

Length - Inches11

Length - Inches6

Length overall - Detail15 ft. 11 in.

Length overall - Detail28 ft. 6 in.

Length overall - Meters4.85

Length overall - Meters8.69

Length overall - Inches191

Length overall - Inches342

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]27 ft. 11 in.

Length [over all with swim platform]not available

Length [over all with swim platform]31 ft.

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in.

Tube diameter25 in. Center: 32 in.

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.09 in.

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes3

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail20 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters75.71

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal20

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Drive typeOutBoard

Drive typeI/O

Engine max50 hp

Engine max320 hp

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity945 lbs.

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people7

Maximum people15

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Bennington 180 ES 2004 vs Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Bennington 180 ES 2004 or the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008?

The Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is the longer of the two at 28,0 feet overall. The Bennington 180 ES 2004 comes in at 15,0 feet, making it roughly 13,0 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 180 ES 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 ES 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 is certified for 15. 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.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Bennington 180 ES 2004. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states - anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Bennington 180 ES 2004 and Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bennington 180 ES 2004 and the Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 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 ES 2004 full specs ← Bennington 2875RLTD I/O 2008 full specs