Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 vs Bennington 227 L 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 or the Bennington 227 L 2005?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bennington 227 L 2005 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 227 L 2005 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 2250 RCL 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 227 L 2005 is certified for 11. 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 2250 RCL 2012 and Bennington 227 L 2005 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 2250 RCL 2012 or the Bennington 227 L 2005?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Bennington 227 L 2005. That 30-gallon difference translates to roughly 90–150 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 and Bennington 227 L 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 and the Bennington 227 L 2005 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 2250 RCL 2012 vs Bennington 227 L 2005

Bennington

Bennington 2250 RCL 2012

2012

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Bennington

Bennington 227 L 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 vs Bennington 227 L 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 vs Bennington 227 L 2005 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Bennington 227 L 2005 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 26 gallons in the Bennington 227 L 2005. 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 227 L 2005 caps at 11. 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 227 L 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model2250 RCL

Model227 L

Model Year2012

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

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

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]23 ft. 6 in

Length [deck]21 ft. 11 in

Length - Feet24.08

Length - Feet22

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters7.34

Length overall - Meters6.71

Length overall - Inches289

Length overall - Inches264

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1,890 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg857.29

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.189

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull typePontoon

Hull typenot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

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

Tube diameter23 in

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

Tube gauge.080 in

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

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 / 56 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters211.98

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal56

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutBoard

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

Engine max115 hp

Operational Info

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

Maximum people11

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 vs Bennington 227 L 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 or the Bennington 227 L 2005?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 is the longer of the two at 24,1 feet overall. The Bennington 227 L 2005 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 227 L 2005 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 2250 RCL 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 227 L 2005 is certified for 11. 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 2250 RCL 2012 and Bennington 227 L 2005 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 2250 RCL 2012 or the Bennington 227 L 2005?

The Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 has the bigger tank at 56 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Bennington 227 L 2005. That 30-gallon difference translates to roughly 90–150 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 and Bennington 227 L 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2250 RCL 2012 and the Bennington 227 L 2005 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 2250 RCL 2012 full specs ← Bennington 227 L 2005 full specs