The Bennington 1850 LX 2004 vs Bennington 20 SLi 2011 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 20 SLi 2011 measures 20,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 3,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 1850 LX 2004 at 17,0 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 20 SLi 2011 tips the scales at 1 611 lbs — 1 467 lbs less than the Bennington 1850 LX 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 75 hp for the Bennington 1850 LX 2004 and 70 hp for the Bennington 20 SLi 2011. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 20 SLi 2011 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 1850 LX 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 20 SLi 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 20 SLi 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 23 passengers and at 20,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 1850 LX 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.