The Bennington 185E 2008 vs Bennington 2250 RFS 2005 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 2250 RFS 2005 measures 22,0 feet overall (2005), giving it roughly 4,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 185E 2008 at 18,0 feet (2008). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 185E 2008 tips the scales at 1 909 lbs — 1 720 lbs more than the Bennington 2250 RFS 2005 at 189 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 115 hp, the Bennington 2250 RFS 2005 has a 55-hp advantage over the Bennington 185E 2008's 60-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 185E 2008 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 2250 RFS 2005 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 185E 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 185E 2008 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 2250 RFS 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.