Bennington 2050 GL 2011 vs Bennington 225 FS 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 or the Bennington 225 FS 2005?

The Bennington 225 FS 2005 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2050 GL 2011 comes in at 21,3 feet, making it roughly 0,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 or the Bennington 225 FS 2005?

For trailering, the Bennington 225 FS 2005 has the edge at 189 lbs dry weight versus 2 553 lbs for the Bennington 2050 GL 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 225 FS 2005 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2050 GL 2011 tops out at 25 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 2050 GL 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 225 FS 2005 is certified for 11. 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 2050 GL 2011 and Bennington 225 FS 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 and Bennington 225 FS 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 26 gallons and 26 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 and Bennington 225 FS 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 and the Bennington 225 FS 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 2050 GL 2011 vs Bennington 225 FS 2005

Bennington

Bennington 2050 GL 2011

2011

View full specs →

Bennington

Bennington 225 FS 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2050 GL 2011 vs Bennington 225 FS 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2050 GL 2011 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 2050 GL 2011 at 21,3 ft versus Bennington 225 FS 2005 at 22,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 tips the scales at 2 553 lbs — 2 364 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 90-hp advantage over the Bennington 2050 GL 2011's 25-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 26 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2050 GL 2011 is rated for 25 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 2050 GL 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 25 passengers and at 21,3 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.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model2050 GL

Model225 FS

Model Year2011

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail25 in. Tubes: 2,194 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 2,553 lbs. Express Performance Package: 2,194 lbs. 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 2,194 lbs. STD Performance Package: 2,553 lbs

Weight - Detail1,890 lbs

Weight - kg1158.02

Weight - kg857.29

Weight - lbs.2553

Weight - lbs.189

Length [deck]19 ft. 11 in

Length [deck]21 ft. 11 in

Length - Feet21.33

Length - Feet22

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 4 in

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters6.5

Length overall - Meters6.71

Length overall - Inches256

Length overall - Inches264

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull typePontoon

Hull typenot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 - 32 in. (depending on package)

Tube diameter23 in

Tube gauge0.08 - 0.10 in. (depending on package)

Tube gauge.080 in

Number of tubes2 (ESP, Express and STD Performance Package: 3)

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Max no of engines1

Max no of enginesnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutBoard

Engine max25 in. Tubes: 115 hp ESP Performance Package: 150 hp Express Performance Package: 115 hp 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 115 hp STD Performance Package: 150 hp

Engine max115 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity25 in. Tubes: 1,663 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 1,540 lbs. Express Performance Package: 1,663 lbs. 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 1,663 lbs. STD Performance Package: 1,540 lbs

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum people25 in. Tubes: 12 ESP Performance Package: 11 Express Performance Package: 12 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 12 STD Performance Package: 11

Maximum people11

Bennington 2050 GL 2011 vs Bennington 225 FS 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 or the Bennington 225 FS 2005?

The Bennington 225 FS 2005 is the longer of the two at 22,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2050 GL 2011 comes in at 21,3 feet, making it roughly 0,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 or the Bennington 225 FS 2005?

For trailering, the Bennington 225 FS 2005 has the edge at 189 lbs dry weight versus 2 553 lbs for the Bennington 2050 GL 2011. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 225 FS 2005 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2050 GL 2011 tops out at 25 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 2050 GL 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 225 FS 2005 is certified for 11. 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 2050 GL 2011 and Bennington 225 FS 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 and Bennington 225 FS 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 26 gallons and 26 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 and Bennington 225 FS 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2050 GL 2011 and the Bennington 225 FS 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 2050 GL 2011 full specs ← Bennington 225 FS 2005 full specs