The Bennington 2280 RL 2006 vs Bennington 23 LSB 2022 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling - 175 hp for the Bennington 2280 RL 2006 and 175 hp for the Bennington 23 LSB 2022. 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 2280 RL 2006 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Bennington 23 LSB 2022 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2280 RL 2006 could be the deciding factor.
The Bennington 2280 RL 2006 is an inflatable design - lighter, easier to store, and quicker to launch from a beach or dock without a slipway. The Bennington 23 LSB 2022 is a rigid hull, which typically offers a more confident ride in chop and easier maintenance over the long term.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2280 RL 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 14 passengers and at 22,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 23 LSB 2022 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.