The Bennington 2050 RL 2012 vs Bennington 257 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 RL 2012 at 22,1 ft versus Bennington 257 FS 2005 at 25,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2050 RL 2012 tips the scales at 2 553 lbs — 2 341 lbs more than the Bennington 257 FS 2005 at 212 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 125 hp, the Bennington 257 FS 2005 has a 100-hp advantage over the Bennington 2050 RL 2012's 25-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 257 FS 2005 carries 26 gallons versus 15 gallons in the Bennington 2050 RL 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 2050 RL 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 257 FS 2005 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2050 RL 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2050 RL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 25 passengers and at 22,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 257 FS 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.