The Bennington 2275 RL 2004 vs Bennington 24 SLi 2011 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 2275 RL 2004 at 21,0 ft versus Bennington 24 SLi 2011 at 23,8 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2275 RL 2004 tips the scales at 1 835 lbs — 1 649 lbs more than the Bennington 24 SLi 2011 at 186 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 150 hp, the Bennington 24 SLi 2011 has a 35-hp advantage over the Bennington 2275 RL 2004's 115-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 24 SLi 2011 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Bennington 2275 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 24 SLi 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 24 SLi 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 13 passengers and at 23,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2275 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.