The Bennington 205 L 2004 vs Bennington 2050SF 2009 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 205 L 2004 at 19,0 ft versus Bennington 2050SF 2009 at 20,0 ft. At 1 720 lbs and 1 745 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class - either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 90 hp, the Bennington 205 L 2004 has a 67-hp advantage over the Bennington 2050SF 2009's 23-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2050SF 2009 is rated for 23 passengers, while the Bennington 205 L 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 2050SF 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2050SF 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 23 passengers and at 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 205 L 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.