When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 185E 2008 and the Bennington 2874 RCW I/O 2012 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2874 RCW I/O 2012 measures 31,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 13,1 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 2874 RCW I/O 2012 tips the scales at 4 262 lbs — 2 353 lbs less than the Bennington 185E 2008 at 1 909 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 425 hp, the Bennington 2874 RCW I/O 2012 has a 365-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 2874 RCW I/O 2012 caps at 16. 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.
Both are 2-tube and 3-tube pontoon designs respectively. Tube diameter and gauge affect stability and load capacity — more so than most buyers realize when comparing on paper.
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 2874 RCW I/O 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.