Bennington 2550 RL 2006 vs Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 or the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004?

The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 or the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004?

For trailering, the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 has the edge at 247 lbs dry weight versus 262 lbs for the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 17 passengers, while the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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 2550 RL 2006 and Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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 2550 RL 2006 or the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004?

The Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. That 26-gallon difference translates to roughly 78–130 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 and Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 and the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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 2550 RL 2006 vs Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004

Bennington

Bennington 2550 RL 2006

2006

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Bennington

Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004

2004

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2550 RL 2006 vs Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 vs Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bennington 2550 RL 2006 at 25,0 ft versus Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 at 24,0 ft. At 262 lbs and 247 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 2 hp for the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 and 2 hp for the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004. 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 2575 RL I/O 2004 carries 52 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. 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 2550 RL 2006 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 comes in at 124 lbs per hp versus 131 lbs per hp for the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.

Both are inflatable designs, which means they pack down for compact storage, can be carried in a bag, and are dramatically lighter than equivalent rigid hulls. The trade-off is setup time and the need to monitor tube pressure regularly.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 25,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 16 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeBennington

Model2550 RL

Model2575 RL I/O

Model Year2006

Model Year2004

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - DetailWith 2 Tubes: 2,200 lbs. With 3 Tubes: 2,620 lbs

Weight - Detail2,470 lbs

Weight - kg1188.41

Weight - kg1120.37

Weight - lbs.262

Weight - lbs.247

Length [deck]24 ft. 11 in

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet25

Length - Feet24

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Detail24 ft. 11 in

Length overall - Meters7.62

Length overall - Meters7.59

Length overall - Inches3

Length overall - Inches299

Length - Inchesnot available

Length - Inches11

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube diameter25 in

Tube gauge.090 in

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2 or 3

Number of tubes2

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal. w/remote fill

Fuel tank capacity - Detail2 Pontoons: 26 gal. 3 Pontoons: 52 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters196.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal52

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typeOutBoard

Engine maxWith 2 Tubes: 135 hp With 3 Tubes: 225 hp

Engine max2 Pontoons: 135 hp 3 Pontoons: 320 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacityWith 2 Tubes: 2,300 lbs. With 3 Tubes: 2,400 lbs

Maximum capacity2,250 lbs

Maximum people17

Maximum people16

Bennington 2550 RL 2006 vs Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 or the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004?

The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 is the longer of the two at 25,0 feet overall. The Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 or the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004?

For trailering, the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 has the edge at 247 lbs dry weight versus 262 lbs for the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Bennington 2550 RL 2006 is Coast Guard rated for 17 passengers, while the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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 2550 RL 2006 and Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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 2550 RL 2006 or the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004?

The Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 has the bigger tank at 52 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Bennington 2550 RL 2006. That 26-gallon difference translates to roughly 78–130 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 and Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2550 RL 2006 and the Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 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 2550 RL 2006 full specs ← Bennington 2575 RL I/O 2004 full specs