The Bennington 20 SLX 2013 vs Bennington 225 FS 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 SLX 2013 at 20,4 ft versus Bennington 225 FS 2005 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 20 SLX 2013 tips the scales at 1 761 lbs — 1 572 lbs more than the Bennington 225 FS 2005 at 189 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 115 hp, the Bennington 225 FS 2005 has a 45-hp advantage over the Bennington 20 SLX 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 225 FS 2005 carries 26 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Bennington 20 SLX 2013. 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 SLX 2013 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 225 FS 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 SLX 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 20 SLX 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 225 FS 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.