Bennington 22 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 or the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 2,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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 22 SLi 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 is certified for 25. 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 22 SLi 2011 and Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 or the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Bennington 22 SLi 2011. That 32-gallon difference translates to roughly 96–160 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 and Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 and the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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 22 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2250 RCL 2012

Bennington

Bennington 22 SLi 2011

2011

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Bennington

Bennington 2250 RCL 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 22 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 — A Close Look at Two Pontoons

When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 and the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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?

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 has a 90-hp advantage over the Bennington 2250 RCL 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 2250 RCL 2012 carries 56 gallons versus 24 gallons in the Bennington 22 SLi 2011. 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 2250 RCL 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 25 passengers and at 24,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model22 SLi

Model2250 RCL

Model Year2011

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,760 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg798.32

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.176

Weight - lbs.not available

Length [deck]19 ft. 11 in

Length [deck]23 ft. 6 in

Length - Feet21.83

Length - Feet24.08

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 10 in

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Meters6.65

Length overall - Meters7.34

Length overall - Inches262

Length overall - Inches289

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]22 ft. 6 in. pontoon length

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typePontoon

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in

Tube diameter25 in. ESP Performance Package: 25 in. outside, 32 in. center

Tube gauge0.08 in

Tube gauge0.080 in. ESP Performance Package: 0.080 in. outside, 0.100 in. center

Number of tubes2 (Express Performance Package: 3)

Number of tubes25 in. Tubes: 2 ESP Performance Package: 3

Engine and Drivetrain

Max no of engines1

Max no of enginesnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail24 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 / 56 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters90.85

Fuel tank capacity - Liters211.98

Fuel tank capacity - Gal24

Fuel tank capacity - Gal56

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max115 hp

Engine max25 in. Tubes: 150 hp ESP Performance Package: 250 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,663 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people12

Maximum people25 in. Tubes: 11 ESP Performance Package: 14

Bennington 22 SLi 2011 vs Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 or the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 comes in at 21,8 feet, making it roughly 2,3 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 22 SLi 2011 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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 22 SLi 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 is certified for 25. 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 22 SLi 2011 and Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 or the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 24 gallons on the Bennington 22 SLi 2011. That 32-gallon difference translates to roughly 96–160 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 and Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 and the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 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 22 SLi 2011 full specs ← Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 full specs