Bennington 185E 2009 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 185E 2009 or the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005?

The Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Bennington 185E 2009 comes in at 18,6 feet, making it roughly 3,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 185E 2009 tops out at 2 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 185E 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 2 passengers, while the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 is certified for 14. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Are the Bennington 185E 2009 and Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 185E 2009 and the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 are built by Bennington. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Bennington 185E 2009 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005

Bennington

Bennington 185E 2009

2009

View full specs →

Bennington

Bennington RL 211 OB 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 185E 2009 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 185E 2009 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 225 hp, the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 has a 223-hp advantage over the Bennington 185E 2009's 2-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 RL 211 OB 2005 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Bennington 185E 2009 caps at 2. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 185E 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 2 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model185E

ModelRL 211 OB

Model Year2009

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Weight - DetailWith 2-23 & 2-25 in. Tubes: 1,909 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg865.91

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.1909

Weight - lbs.not available

Length [deck]17 ft. 11 in

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet18.58

Length - Feet22

Length - Inches6.75

Length - Inches11

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 6.75 in

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Meters5.66

Length overall - Meters6.99

Length overall - Inches222.75

Length overall - Inches275

Beamnot available

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches102

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise16℃

Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available

Draft [drive up] - Detail16 in

Draft [drive up] metersnot available

Draft [drive up] meters0.41

Draft [drive up] inchesnot available

Draft [drive up] inches16

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail33 in

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.84

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches33

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull typePontoon

Hull typenot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 or 25 in

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge0.08 in

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Engine maxWith 2-23 & 2-25 in. Tubes: 60 hp

Engine max225 hp

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Operational Info

Maximum peopleWith 2-23 in. Tubes: 7 / 915 lbs. With 2-25 in. Tubes: 9 / 1,225 lbs

Maximum people14

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,500 lbs

Bennington 185E 2009 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 185E 2009 or the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005?

The Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Bennington 185E 2009 comes in at 18,6 feet, making it roughly 3,4 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 is rated to a maximum of 225 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 185E 2009 tops out at 2 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 185E 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 2 passengers, while the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 is certified for 14. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Are the Bennington 185E 2009 and Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 185E 2009 and the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 are built by Bennington. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Bennington 185E 2009 full specs ← Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 full specs