Bennington 23 RSB 2022 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 23 RSB 2022
2022
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VS
Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012
2012
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Bennington 23 RSB 2022 vs Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 23 RSB 2022 vs Bennington 23 SL I/O 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.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 300 hp for the Bennington 23 RSB 2022 and 320 hp for the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012. 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 23 SL I/O 2012 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Bennington 23 RSB 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 23 SL I/O 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 22,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 23 RSB 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.
Measurements / Dimensions
Length overall - Detail24.00 ft
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 4 in. plus outdrive (add 33 in. for optional swim platform)
Length - Feet24
Length - Feet22.33
Length overall - Meters7.32
Length overall - Meters6.81
Length overall - Inches288
Length overall - Inches268
Beamnot available
Beam8 ft. 6 in
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inchesnot available
Beam - Inches102
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail2,811 lbs. excludes engine
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg1275.05
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.2811
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [at waterline]22 ft. 6 in. pontoon length
Length [deck]not available
Length [deck]21 ft. 11 in
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine makeMercury
Engine makenot available
Horsepower300 hp
Horsepowernot available
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeoutboard
Drive typeI/O
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail62 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters234.7
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal62
Engine maxnot available
Engine max320 hp
Operational Info
Boat typePower
Boat typenot available
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people12
General Boat Info
Makenot available
MakeBennington
Modelnot available
Model23 SL I/O
Model Yearnot available
Model Year2012
Body / Hull
Hull materialnot available
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typenot available
Hull typePontoon
Pontoon and Inflatable Specific
Tube diameternot available
Tube diameter25 in
Tube gaugenot available
Tube gauge0.080 / 0.125 in
Number of tubesnot available
Number of tubes3

Bennington 23 RSB 2022 vs Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 23 RSB 2022 or the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012?
The Bennington 23 RSB 2022 is the longer of the two at 24,0 feet overall. The Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 comes in at 22,3 feet, making it roughly 1,7 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?
The Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 23 RSB 2022 tops out at 300 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 23 RSB 2022 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 is certified for 12. 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.
Are the Bennington 23 RSB 2022 and Bennington 23 SL I/O 2012 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bennington 23 RSB 2022 and the Bennington 23 SL I/O 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.