When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 and the Bennington 2050FSi-Sport Fish Series 2009 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 measures 22,1 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 20,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 2050FSi-Sport Fish Series 2009 at 2,0 feet (2009). At 2 553 lbs and 2 553 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 — 25 hp for the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 and 23 hp for the Bennington 2050FSi-Sport Fish Series 2009. 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2050FSi-Sport Fish Series 2009 caps at 23. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 could be the deciding factor.