The Bennington 1875 GL 2012 vs Bennington 207 FS 2004 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bennington 1875 GL 2012 at 20,1 ft versus Bennington 207 FS 2004 at 19,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 1875 GL 2012 tips the scales at 1 868 lbs — 1 696 lbs more than the Bennington 207 FS 2004 at 172 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 90 hp, the Bennington 207 FS 2004 has a 67-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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 1875 GL 2012 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 207 FS 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 1875 GL 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 1875 GL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 23 passengers and at 20,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 207 FS 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.