Bennington 185 L 2004 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 185 L 2004
2004
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Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013
2013
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Bennington 185 L 2004 vs Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 185 L 2004 vs Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 measures 28,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 11,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 185 L 2004 at 17,0 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 tips the scales at 3 648 lbs — 3 504 lbs less than the Bennington 185 L 2004 at 144 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 430 hp, the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 has a 355-hp advantage over the Bennington 185 L 2004's 75-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 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 carries 59 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Bennington 185 L 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 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Bennington 185 L 2004 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 28,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 185 L 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBennington
MakeBennington
Model185 L
Model2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower
Model Year2004
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft
Beam8 ft. 6 in
Beam - Meters2.44
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches96
Beam - Inches102
Weight - Detail1,440 lbs
Weight - Detail3,648 lbs
Weight - kg653.17
Weight - kg1654.7
Weight - lbs.144
Weight - lbs.3648
Length - Feet17
Length - Feet28.08
Length - Inches11
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail17 ft. 11 in
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 1 in
Length overall - Meters5.46
Length overall - Meters8.56
Length overall - Inches215
Length overall - Inches337
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]25 ft. 6 in. pontoon length
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]24 ft. 11 in
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameter23 in
Tube diameter25 in. outside, 32 in. center
Tube gaugenot available
Tube gauge0.100 / 0.125
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes3
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detail58.7 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42
Fuel tank capacity - Liters223.34
Fuel tank capacity - Gal26
Fuel tank capacity - Gal58.7
Drive typeOutBoard
Drive typeI/O
Engine max75 hp
Engine max430 hp
Fuel typenot available
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Operational Info
Maximum capacity1,200 lbs
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum people9
Maximum people13
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typenot available
Hull typePontoon

Bennington 185 L 2004 vs Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 185 L 2004 or the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013?
The Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 is the longer of the two at 28,1 feet overall. The Bennington 185 L 2004 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 11,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 185 L 2004 or the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013?
For trailering, the Bennington 185 L 2004 has the edge at 144 lbs dry weight versus 3 648 lbs for the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 is rated to a maximum of 430 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 185 L 2004 tops out at 75 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 185 L 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 9 passengers, while the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 is certified for 13. 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 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 measures 102" wide, compared to 96" for the Bennington 185 L 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.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 185 L 2004 or the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013?
The Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 has the bigger tank at 59 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Bennington 185 L 2004. That 32-gallon difference translates to roughly 98–163 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Bennington 185 L 2004 and Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bennington 185 L 2004 and the Bennington 2575 RCW I/O Sport Tower 2013 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.