When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 and the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2011 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bennington 22 SLi 2011 at 21,8 ft versus Bennington 23 SL I/O 2011 at 22,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2011 tips the scales at 2 811 lbs — 2 635 lbs less than the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 at 176 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 115 hp, the Bennington 22 SLi 2011 has a 83-hp advantage over the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2011's 32-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 23 SL I/O 2011 carries 62 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.

Both boats are rated for 12 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.