Bennington 2250 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2580 RL 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2580 RL 2004?

The Bennington 2580 RL 2004 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2250 RL 2004 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 3,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2580 RL 2004?

For trailering, the Bennington 2580 RL 2004 has the edge at 22 lbs dry weight versus 1 835 lbs for the Bennington 2250 RL 2004. 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 2580 RL 2004 is rated to a maximum of 135 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2250 RL 2004 tops out at 115 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 RL 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 and Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 and Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 and Bennington 2580 RL 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 and the Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2580 RL 2004

Bennington

Bennington 2250 RL 2004

2004

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Bennington

Bennington 2580 RL 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2250 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2580 RL 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2250 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 at 21,0 ft versus Bennington 2580 RL 2004 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 tips the scales at 1 835 lbs — 1 813 lbs more than the Bennington 2580 RL 2004 at 22 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 2250 RL 2004 and 135 hp for the Bennington 2580 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 — 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 2580 RL 2004 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2580 RL 2004 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2580 RL 2004 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2250 RL 2004 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 RL

Model2580 RL

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,835 lbs

Weight - Detail2,200 lbs

Weight - kg832.34

Weight - kg997.9

Weight - lbs.1835

Weight - lbs.22

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet24

Length - Inches11

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Meters6.68

Length overall - Meters7.59

Length overall - Inches263

Length overall - Inches299

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in

Tube diameter25 in

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Drive typeOutBoard

Engine max115 hp

Engine max135 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,500 lbs

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum people11

Maximum people17

Bennington 2250 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2580 RL 2004 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2580 RL 2004?

The Bennington 2580 RL 2004 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2250 RL 2004 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 3,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2580 RL 2004?

For trailering, the Bennington 2580 RL 2004 has the edge at 22 lbs dry weight versus 1 835 lbs for the Bennington 2250 RL 2004. 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 2580 RL 2004 is rated to a maximum of 135 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2250 RL 2004 tops out at 115 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 RL 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 and Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 and Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 and Bennington 2580 RL 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2250 RL 2004 and the Bennington 2580 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 2250 RL 2004 full specs ← Bennington 2580 RL 2004 full specs