When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 24 SFX 2012 and the Bennington 2875RCW I/O 2009 are pontoon designs with aluminum construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bennington 2875RCW I/O 2009 measures 28,0 feet overall (2009), giving it roughly 4,2 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bennington 24 SFX 2012 at 23,8 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 2875RCW I/O 2009 tips the scales at 4 263 lbs — 4 242 lbs less than the Bennington 24 SFX 2012 at 21 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 425 hp, the Bennington 2875RCW I/O 2009 has a 275-hp advantage over the Bennington 24 SFX 2012's 150-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington 24 SFX 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington 2875RCW I/O 2009 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 24 SFX 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 24 SFX 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 25 passengers and at 23,8 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2875RCW I/O 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.