The Bennington 180 ES 2004 vs Bennington RL 262 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Bennington RL 262 2005 has a 250-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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington RL 262 2005 carries 66 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Bennington 180 ES 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 RL 262 2005 is rated for 16 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 RL 262 2005 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington RL 262 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 25,0 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.