Bennington 20 SFX 2013 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 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 20 SFX 2013 comes in at 20,4 feet, making it roughly 1,6 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 20 SFX 2013 tops out at 70 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 20 SFX 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 23 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: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 and Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 or the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005?

The Bennington 20 SFX 2013 has the bigger tank at 21 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 49–82 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 and Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 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 20 SFX 2013 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005

Bennington

Bennington 20 SFX 2013

2013

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Bennington

Bennington RL 211 OB 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 20 SFX 2013 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 20 SFX 2013 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 155-hp advantage over the Bennington 20 SFX 2013's 70-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 20 SFX 2013 carries 21 gallons versus 5 gallons in the Bennington RL 211 OB 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 SFX 2013 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 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 RL 211 OB 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model20 SFX

ModelRL 211 OB

Model Year2013

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail23 in. Tubes: 1,723 lbs. 25 in. Tubes: 1,761 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg798.78

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.1761

Weight - lbs.not available

Length [at waterline]19 ft. 6 in. pontoon length

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]18 ft. 11 in

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet20.42

Length - Feet22

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 5 in

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Meters6.22

Length overall - Meters6.99

Length overall - Inches245

Length overall - Inches275

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

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches11

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

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail21.4 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail50 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters79.49

Fuel tank capacity - Liters189.27

Fuel tank capacity - Gal21.4

Fuel tank capacity - Gal5

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max70 hp

Engine max225 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people23 in. Tubes: 9 25 in. Tubes: 11

Maximum people14

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,500 lbs

Bennington 20 SFX 2013 vs Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 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 20 SFX 2013 comes in at 20,4 feet, making it roughly 1,6 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 20 SFX 2013 tops out at 70 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 20 SFX 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 23 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.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 and Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 share an 8 ft. 6 in beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 or the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005?

The Bennington 20 SFX 2013 has the bigger tank at 21 gallons, versus 5 gallons on the Bennington RL 211 OB 2005. That 16-gallon difference translates to roughly 49–82 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 and Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 20 SFX 2013 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 20 SFX 2013 full specs ← Bennington RL 211 OB 2005 full specs