Bennington 2275 FS 2005 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012?

The Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington 2275 FS 2005 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 5,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012?

For trailering, the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 has the edge at 1 835 lbs dry weight versus 3 223 lbs for the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012. 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: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 has a documented max rating of 25 hp. Engine specifications for the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 2275 FS 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 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 2275 FS 2005 and Bennington 2550 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: Are the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 and the Bennington 2550 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 2275 FS 2005 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2012

Bennington

Bennington 2275 FS 2005

2005

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Bennington

Bennington 2550 RCL 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2275 FS 2005 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2275 FS 2005 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 measures 27,1 feet overall (2012), giving it roughly 5,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 at 22,0 feet (2005). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 tips the scales at 3 223 lbs — 1 388 lbs less than the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 at 1 835 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 Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 tops out at 25 hp. Engine specs for the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 25 passengers and at 27,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2275 FS 2005 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

Model2275 FS

Model2550 RCL

Model Year2005

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,835 lbs

Weight - Detail25 in. Tubes: 2,932 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 3,223 lbs

Weight - kg832.34

Weight - kg1461.93

Weight - lbs.1835

Weight - lbs.3223

Length [deck]21 ft. 11 in

Length [deck]26 ft. 6 in

Length - Feet22

Length - Feet27.08

Length overall - Detail22 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Meters6.71

Length overall - Meters8.26

Length overall - Inches264

Length overall - Inches325

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [at waterline]25 ft. 6 in. pontoon length

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in

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

Tube gauge.080 in

Tube gauge0.090 in. ESP Performance Package: 0.090 in. outside, 0.100 in. center

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2 ESP Performance Package: 3

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine/s standard115 hp

Engine/s standardnot available

Drive typeOutBoard

Drive typeOutboard

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail30 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters113.56

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal3

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Engine maxnot available

Engine max25 in. Tubes: 150 hp ESP Performance Package: 350 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,300 lbs

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people12

Maximum people25 in. Tubes: 13 ESP Performance Package: 16

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Bennington 2275 FS 2005 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012?

The Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington 2275 FS 2005 comes in at 22,0 feet, making it roughly 5,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012?

For trailering, the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 has the edge at 1 835 lbs dry weight versus 3 223 lbs for the Bennington 2550 RCL 2012. 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.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 has a documented max rating of 25 hp. Engine specifications for the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 2275 FS 2005 is Coast Guard rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 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 2275 FS 2005 and Bennington 2550 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.

Are the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2275 FS 2005 and the Bennington 2550 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 2275 FS 2005 full specs ← Bennington 2550 RCL 2012 full specs