Bennington 2050 RL 2013 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 or the Bennington 2550 RL 2004?

The Bennington 2550 RL 2004 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 comes in at 22,1 feet, making it roughly 1,9 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer - the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 or the Bennington 2550 RL 2004?

For trailering, the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 has the edge at 2 200 lbs dry weight versus 2 553 lbs for the Bennington 2050 RL 2013. 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 2550 RL 2004 is rated to a maximum of 135 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 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 RL 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 is certified for 17. 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 RL 2013 and Bennington 2550 RL 2004 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 RL 2013 and Bennington 2550 RL 2004?

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 RL 2013 and Bennington 2550 RL 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 and the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 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 RL 2013 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2004

Bennington

Bennington 2050 RL 2013

2013

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Bennington

Bennington 2550 RL 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2050 RL 2013 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2004: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2004 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 2013 at 22,1 ft versus Bennington 2550 RL 2004 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 tips the scales at 2 553 lbs - 353 lbs more than the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 at 2 200 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 135 hp, the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 has a 110-hp advantage over the Bennington 2050 RL 2013'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 RL 2013 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 caps at 17. 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.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 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 2550 RL 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 17 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model2050 RL

Model2550 RL

Model Year2013

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in.

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail25 in. Tubes or 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 2,165 lbs. Express Performance Package: 2,265 lbs. ESP or SPS Performance Package: 2,553 lbs.

Weight - Detail2,200 lbs.

Weight - kg1158.02

Weight - kg997.9

Weight - lbs.2553

Weight - lbs.2200

Length [at waterline]20 ft. 6 in. pontoon length

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]19 ft. 11 in.

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet22.08

Length - Feet24

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 1 in.

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 11 in.

Length overall - Meters6.73

Length overall - Meters7.59

Length overall - Inches265

Length overall - Inches299

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches11

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull typePontoon

Hull typenot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in. 32 in. elliptical

Tube diameter25 in.

Tube gauge25 in. Tubes or Express Performance Package: 0.080 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 0.100 ESP or SPS Performance Package: 0.080 / 0.100

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes25 & 32 in. Tubes: 2 Express Performance Package, ESP or SPS Performance Package: 3

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail25.8 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal25.8

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutBoard

Engine max25 in. Tubes or Express Performance Package: 90 hp / 115 hp 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 150 hp ESP or SPS Performance Package: 150 hp

Engine max135 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people25 in. Tubes or Express Performance Package: 10 with 90 hp, 9 with 115 hp 32 in. Elliptical Tubes, ESP or SPS Performance Package: 11

Maximum people17

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs.

Bennington 2050 RL 2013 vs Bennington 2550 RL 2004 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 or the Bennington 2550 RL 2004?

The Bennington 2550 RL 2004 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 comes in at 22,1 feet, making it roughly 1,9 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer - the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 or the Bennington 2550 RL 2004?

For trailering, the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 has the edge at 2 200 lbs dry weight versus 2 553 lbs for the Bennington 2050 RL 2013. 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 2550 RL 2004 is rated to a maximum of 135 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2050 RL 2013 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 RL 2013 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 is certified for 17. 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 RL 2013 and Bennington 2550 RL 2004 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 RL 2013 and Bennington 2550 RL 2004?

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 RL 2013 and Bennington 2550 RL 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bennington 2050 RL 2013 and the Bennington 2550 RL 2004 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 RL 2013 full specs ← Bennington 2550 RL 2004 full specs