Both the Bennington 1875 GL 2012 and the Bennington 20 SF 2013 are pontoon designs, both built in aluminium, so 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Bennington 1875 GL 2012 at 20,1 ft versus Bennington 20 SF 2013 at 20,4 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 1875 GL 2012 tips the scales at 1 868 lbs - 107 lbs more than the Bennington 20 SF 2013 at 1 761 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 70 hp, the Bennington 20 SF 2013 has a 47-hp advantage over the Bennington 1875 GL 2012's 23-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington 1875 GL 2012 carries 26 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Bennington 20 SF 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 23 passengers - a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

One place where both boats are genuinely identical is tube construction: both run 2 aluminum tubes at 23" diameter. That shared spec means stability and buoyancy characteristics are closely matched - the ride difference you'll feel between them comes primarily from deck length, weight distribution, and motor choice.