The Bennington 185 S 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2004 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 2550 RL 2004 measures 24,0 feet overall (2004), giving it roughly 7,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 185 S 2004 at 17,0 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 185 S 2004 tips the scales at 144 lbs — 122 lbs more than the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 at 22 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 135 hp, the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 has a 60-hp advantage over the Bennington 185 S 2004's 75-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2550 RL 2004 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Bennington 185 S 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 2550 RL 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 185 S 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.