Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington 2574 RFS 2012
2012
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VS
Bennington QX 2016 boat specs
Bennington
Bennington QX 2016
2016
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Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 vs Bennington QX 2016 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 vs Bennington QX 2016 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 380 hp, the Bennington QX 2016 has a 355-hp advantage over the Bennington 2574 RFS 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 QX 2016 carries 58 gallons versus 33 gallons in the Bennington 2574 RFS 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 RFS 2012 is rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington QX 2016 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Bennington 2574 RFS 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 QX 2016 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeBennington
Makenot available
Model2574 RFS
Modelnot available
Model Year2012
Model Yearnot available
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in
Beamnot available
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Metersnot available
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inchesnot available
Weight - Detail25 in. Tubes: 2,932 lbs. ESP Performance Package: 3,298 lbs. 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 3,020 lbs. STD Performance Package: 3,223 lbs
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - kg1461.93
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - lbs.3223
Weight - lbs.not available
Length [at waterline]25 ft. 6 in. pontoon length
Length [at waterline]not available
Length [deck]24 ft. 11 in
Length [deck]not available
Length - Feet27.08
Length - Feet25
Length overall - Detail27 ft. 1 in
Length overall - Detail25.00 ft
Length overall - Meters8.26
Length overall - Meters7.62
Length overall - Inches325
Length overall - Inches300
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 gauge0.090 in. ESP Performance Package: 0.090 in. outside, 0.100 in. center
Tube gaugenot available
Number of tubes25 & 32 in. Tubes: 2 ESP & STD Performance Package: 3
Number of tubesnot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail33 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters124.92
Fuel tank capacity - Liters219.55
Fuel tank capacity - Gal33
Fuel tank capacity - Gal58
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas
Drive typeOutboard
Drive typeinboard
Engine max25 in. Tubes: 150 hp ESP Performance Package: 350 hp 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 150 hp STD Performance Package: 300 hp
Engine maxnot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeMercury
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower380 hp
Operational Info
Maximum people25 in. Tubes: 13 ESP Performance Package: 16 32 in. Elliptical Tubes: 15 STD Performance Package: 14
Maximum peoplenot available
Boat typenot available
Boat typePower

Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 vs Bennington QX 2016 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 or the Bennington QX 2016?
The Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Bennington QX 2016 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 QX 2016 is rated to a maximum of 380 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Bennington 2574 RFS 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 RFS 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 25 passengers, while the Bennington QX 2016 is certified for 7. 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.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 or the Bennington QX 2016?
The Bennington QX 2016 has the bigger tank at 58 gallons, versus 33 gallons on the Bennington 2574 RFS 2012. That 25-gallon difference translates to roughly 75–125 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 and Bennington QX 2016 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Bennington 2574 RFS 2012 and the Bennington QX 2016 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.