The Bennington 20 SFi 2011 vs Bennington 2250 RSi 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Bennington 20 SFi 2011 at 20,4 ft versus Bennington 2250 RSi 2005 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2250 RSi 2005 tips the scales at 2 030 lbs - 419 lbs less than the Bennington 20 SFi 2011 at 1 611 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 70 hp for the Bennington 20 SFi 2011 and 90 hp for the Bennington 2250 RSi 2005. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington 20 SFi 2011 carries 24 gallons versus 20 gallons in the Bennington 2250 RSi 2005. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 20 SFi 2011 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 2250 RSi 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 20 SFi 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 20 SFi 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 23 passengers and at 20,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2250 RSi 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.