The Bennington 2050 RL 2005 vs Bennington 22 SSL 2012 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 RL 2005 at 20,0 ft versus Bennington 22 SSL 2012 at 21,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 22 SSL 2012 tips the scales at 2 100 lbs - 380 lbs less than the Bennington 2050 RL 2005 at 1 720 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 95 hp for the Bennington 2050 RL 2005 and 115 hp for the Bennington 22 SSL 2012. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington 2050 RL 2005 carries 26 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Bennington 22 SSL 2012. 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 22 SSL 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2050 RL 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 SSL 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 22 SSL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 25 passengers and at 21,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2050 RL 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.