The Bennington 185 L 2005 vs Bennington 185SL 2009 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 185 L 2005 at 18,0 ft versus Bennington 185SL 2009 at 18,0 ft. At 1 640 lbs and 1 611 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 75 hp for the Bennington 185 L 2005 and 60 hp for the Bennington 185SL 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 185SL 2009 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 185 L 2005 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 185SL 2009 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Bennington 185 L 2005 comes in at 22 lbs per hp versus 27 lbs per hp for the Bennington 185SL 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration - meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 185SL 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 23 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 185 L 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.