Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 vs Bennington RL 262 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat - the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 comes in at 24,3 feet, making it roughly 0,7 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington RL 262 2005 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.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Bennington RL 262 2005 is certified for 16. 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 25 SL I/O 2011 and Bennington RL 262 2005 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: Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 has the bigger tank at 66 gallons, versus 62 gallons on the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 and Bennington RL 262 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 and the Bennington RL 262 2005 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 25 SL I/O 2011 vs Bennington RL 262 2005

Bennington

Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011

2011

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Bennington

Bennington RL 262 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 vs Bennington RL 262 2005: Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 vs Bennington RL 262 2005 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 - 320 hp for the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 and 300 hp for the Bennington RL 262 2005. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington RL 262 2005 carries 66 gallons versus 62 gallons in the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bennington RL 262 2005 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington RL 262 2005 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington RL 262 2005 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 16 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 14 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model25 SL I/O

ModelRL 262

Model Year2011

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in.

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail3,099 lbs.

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg1405.68

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.3099

Weight - lbs.not available

Length [deck]23 ft. 11 in.

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet24.33

Length - Feet25

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 4 in. (plus outdrive)

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 6 in.

Length overall - Meters7.42

Length overall - Meters7.77

Length overall - Inches292

Length overall - Inches306

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise18℃

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]15?

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches6

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull materialnot available

Hull typePontoon

Hull typenot available

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in.

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge0.08 in.

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes3

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Max no of engines1

Max no of enginesnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail62 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Detail66 gal.

Fuel tank capacity - Liters234.7

Fuel tank capacity - Liters249.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal62

Fuel tank capacity - Gal66

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeI/O

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max320 hp

Engine max300 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity2,038 lbs.

Maximum capacity3,100 lbs.

Maximum people14

Maximum people16

Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 vs Bennington RL 262 2005 - Common Questions

Which is the larger boat - the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 comes in at 24,3 feet, making it roughly 0,7 ft shorter - a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 is rated to a maximum of 320 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington RL 262 2005 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 25 SL I/O 2011 is Coast Guard rated for 14 passengers, while the Bennington RL 262 2005 is certified for 16. 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 25 SL I/O 2011 and Bennington RL 262 2005 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.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank - the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 has the bigger tank at 66 gallons, versus 62 gallons on the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011. That 4-gallon difference translates to roughly 12–20 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 and Bennington RL 262 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes - both the Bennington 25 SL I/O 2011 and the Bennington RL 262 2005 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 25 SL I/O 2011 full specs ← Bennington RL 262 2005 full specs