The Bennington 205 L 2005 vs Bennington 22 SLi 2011 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 measures 21,8 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 19,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 205 L 2005 at 2,0 feet (2005). At 172 lbs and 176 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 95 hp for the Bennington 205 L 2005 and 115 hp for the Bennington 22 SLi 2011. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 205 L 2005 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 21,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 205 L 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 9 that costs less to run day-to-day.