When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bennington 24 SL 2012 and the Bennington 24SLi 2010 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?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bennington 24 SL 2012 at 23,8 ft versus Bennington 24SLi 2010 at 23,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bennington 24SLi 2010 tips the scales at 186 lbs — 165 lbs less than the Bennington 24 SL 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 150 hp, the Bennington 24 SL 2012 has a 125-hp advantage over the Bennington 24SLi 2010'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 — 21 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 25 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.