The Bennington 22 SSL 2011 vs Bennington 2275 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 22 SSL 2011 at 21,8 ft versus Bennington 2275 RL 2004 at 21,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2275 RL 2004 tips the scales at 1 835 lbs — 1 814 lbs less than the Bennington 22 SSL 2011 at 21 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 115 hp for the Bennington 22 SSL 2011 and 115 hp for the Bennington 2275 RL 2004. 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. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 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 2275 RL 2004 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Bennington 22 SSL 2011 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2275 RL 2004 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2275 RL 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 22 SSL 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 10 that costs less to run day-to-day.