Bennington 2280 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011?

The Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington 2280 RL 2004 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 6,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011?

For trailering, the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 has the edge at 1 835 lbs dry weight versus 3 223 lbs for the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011. 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 2280 RL 2004 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2011?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 26 gallons and 28 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 2280 RL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 and the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2011

Bennington

Bennington 2280 RL 2004

2004

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Bennington

Bennington 2550 RCL 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2280 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2280 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 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.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 measures 27,1 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 6,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 at 21,0 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 tips the scales at 3 223 lbs — 1 388 lbs less than the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 115 hp, the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 has a 90-hp advantage over the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011's 25-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 28 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2280 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 2550 RCL 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 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

Model2280 RL

Model2550 RCL

Model Year2004

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail1,835 lbs

Weight - Detail25 in. Tubes: 2,649 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 3,298 lbs. 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 2,799 lbs. STD Performance Package: 3,223 lbs

Weight - kg832.34

Weight - kg1461.93

Weight - lbs.1835

Weight - lbs.3223

Length - Feet21

Length - Feet27.08

Length - Inches11

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail21 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Meters6.68

Length overall - Meters8.26

Length overall - Inches263

Length overall - Inches325

Length [deck]not available

Length [deck]24 ft. 11 in

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter23 in

Tube diameter25 - 32 in. (depending on package)

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge0.09 - 0.10 in. (depending on pacakge)

Number of tubesnot available

Number of tubes2 (ESP and STD Performance Package: 3)

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail28 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters105.99

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal28

Drive typeOutBoard

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max115 hp

Engine max25 in. Tubes: 150 hp ESP Performance Package: 350 hp 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 150 hp STD Performance Package: 300 hp

Max no of enginesnot available

Max no of engines1

Fuel typenot available

Fuel typeGas

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,500 lbs

Maximum capacity25 in. Tubes: 2,092 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 2,324 lbs. 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 2,092 lbs. STD Performance Package: 2,050 lbs

Maximum people11

Maximum people25 in. Tubes: 15 ESP Performance Package: 16 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 15 STD Performance Package: 14

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialAluminum

Hull typenot available

Hull typePontoon

Bennington 2280 RL 2004 vs Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011?

The Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington 2280 RL 2004 comes in at 21,0 feet, making it roughly 6,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 or the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011?

For trailering, the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 has the edge at 1 835 lbs dry weight versus 3 223 lbs for the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011. 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 2280 RL 2004 is rated to a maximum of 115 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 is Coast Guard rated for 11 passengers, while the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2011?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 26 gallons and 28 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 2280 RL 2004 and Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2280 RL 2004 and the Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 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 2280 RL 2004 full specs ← Bennington 2550 RCL 2011 full specs