The Bennington 185 L 2005 vs Bennington 2275RL I/O (3) 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2275RL I/O (3) 2009 measures 22,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 185 L 2005 at 18,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2275RL I/O (3) 2009 tips the scales at 3 111 lbs - 1 471 lbs less than the Bennington 185 L 2005 at 1 640 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 320 hp, the Bennington 2275RL I/O (3) 2009 has a 245-hp advantage over the Bennington 185 L 2005's 75-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 2275RL I/O (3) 2009 is rated for 11 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 2275RL I/O (3) 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2275RL I/O (3) 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 11 passengers and at 22,0 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.