Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 vs Bennington RL 262 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington RL 262 2005 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 tops out at 25 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 2574 GCW 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 25 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 2574 GCW 2012 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 2574 GCW 2012 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 has the bigger tank at 66 gallons, versus 25 gallons on the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012. That 41-gallon difference translates to roughly 123–205 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 and Bennington RL 262 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 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 2574 GCW 2012 vs Bennington RL 262 2005

Bennington

Bennington 2574 GCW 2012

2012

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Bennington

Bennington RL 262 2005

2005

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 vs Bennington RL 262 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 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.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 300 hp, the Bennington RL 262 2005 has a 275-hp advantage over the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012's 25-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bennington RL 262 2005 carries 66 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012. 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 2574 GCW 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington RL 262 2005 caps at 16. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 25 passengers and at 27,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Bennington RL 262 2005 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

Model2574 GCW

ModelRL 262

Model Year2012

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam8 ft. 6 in

Beam - Meters2.59

Beam - Inches102

Weight - Detail25 in. Tubes: 2,552 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 3,298 lbs. Express Performance Package: 2,552 lbs. 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 3,020 lbs

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - kg1369.85

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - lbs.302

Weight - lbs.not available

Length [at waterline]25 ft. 6 in. pontoon length

Length [at waterline]not available

Length [deck]26 ft. 6 in

Length [deck]not available

Length - Feet27.08

Length - Feet25

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 1 in

Length overall - Detail25 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters8.26

Length overall - Meters7.77

Length overall - Inches325

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. ESP Performance Package: 25 in. outside, 32 in. center

Tube diameternot available

Tube gauge25 in. & Express Performance Package: 0.090 in. ESP Performance Package: 0.090 in. outside, 0.100 in. center 32 in. Elliptical: 0.080 in

Tube gaugenot available

Number of tubes2 ESP & Express Packages: 3

Number of tubesnot available

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail25 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail66 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters94.64

Fuel tank capacity - Liters249.84

Fuel tank capacity - Gal25

Fuel tank capacity - Gal66

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max25 in. Tubes: 150 hp ESP Performance Package: 350 hp Express Performance Package: 150 hp 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 150 hp

Engine max300 hp

Operational Info

Maximum people25 in. & Express Performance Package: 14 ESP Performance Package: 16 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 15

Maximum people16

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity3,100 lbs

Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 vs Bennington RL 262 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington RL 262 2005 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 is rated to a maximum of 300 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 tops out at 25 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 2574 GCW 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 25 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 2574 GCW 2012 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 2574 GCW 2012 or the Bennington RL 262 2005?

The Bennington RL 262 2005 has the bigger tank at 66 gallons, versus 25 gallons on the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012. That 41-gallon difference translates to roughly 123–205 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 and Bennington RL 262 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Bennington 2574 GCW 2012 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 2574 GCW 2012 full specs ← Bennington RL 262 2005 full specs