Bennington’s fishing-friendly 20 SF-SPS might come from the brand’s most affordable series, but we were impressed by its features and construction. Exterior fencing eschewed boring rectangular patterns with a bold swoop backed in a contrasting color and texture. Two-color asymmetrical patterns with Serene Soft Touch vinyl and a Simtex accent add an upscale feel to the interior seating. The roto-molded helm was impressively contoured and capped with an acrylic top and glare-reducing brow. ­Vinyl weave flooring came standard. 

Designed as a fishing-focused entry in the Bennington lineup, the SF features a pair of fishing seats forward, upgraded on our test boat to high-back captain-style recliners. Sorry, you can’t lie about the size of your catch; roto-molded corner units feature lids with rulers. One serves as a livewell, the other for storage. Rail-mounted rod holders near each chair are ready to secure a pair of rods vertically.

There’s plenty more aft. Perimeter fencing stretches the length of the deck, making space for two additional bass seats with fold-down backrests. A central tackle station adds an additional livewell, two more rod holders on each side, an etched ruler, and a pair of cup holders and rod holders. A trio of slide-out tackle boxes are within reach. An optional roto-molded rod locker can be positioned inside the starboard fencing. Our test boat’s textured vinyl flooring below seemed like an odd pairing, but it’s attractive, comfortable underfoot, and promises to be readily washable.

Bennington’s SPS (Sports Performance System) is ready to get you to your favorite fishing hole quickly as well as comfortably cruise the local lake. It includes a trio of full-length 25-inch pontoons, with lifting strakes on the center tube, performance foils on the insides of the outside logs, solid round keels, and an underdeck wave shield. SeaStar hydraulic steering rounds out things. Underway, handling was sharp and smooth. During testing, a Yamaha 115 outboard produced a brief 3.7-second time to plane and 34.3 mph top speed.

High Points

• L-shaped lounge opposite the helm provides social seating. 
• Optional Trolling Motor Gate features a panel-less bottom half for installation.
• Saltwater Package has sacrificial anodes and sealed lifting strakes.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha F115
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha 13¾” x 14″ 3-blade aluminum
• Gear Ratio: 2.15:1 Fuel Load: 11 gal. Crew Weight: 155 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 20 SF-SPS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Delivering a stellar combination of performance and value, Bennington proves it can compete at any level with the SVSB-SPS. Rigged with Yamaha’s VMax SHO 200, we planed in just 3.3 seconds, reaching 30 mph in a cat-quick 6.1 seconds. Top speed was a healthy 45 mph at 5,900 rpm. In the midrange, this Bennington-Yamaha package was quiet as well as thrifty; our decibel meter recorded just 69 dB(A) while sipping fuel at 3.6 gph (that’s 4 mpg) at a best-cruise speed of 14 mph and 2,500 rpm. Handling was ­sure-footed and ­predictable at all speeds; we carved turns with little heel-over leaning, and skipped over boat wakes and wind chop without drama.

Aboard, the SVSB-SPS is new and ­redesigned from the deck up for 2024. New for 2024 is the Swingback aft lounge seat, previously only offered on Bennington’s higher-end models. The intent is to offer this model as a package all-inclusive of most options, making it an easier ­purchase for new boaters.

Interior seating vinyl is a Serene Soft Touch pillow-top style, with colors that include a shadow gray with carbon accents for a subdued and tasteful combination. Seagrass is the name of the ­vinyl flooring.

In the bow, dual facing loungers form a gathering place, with lumbar areas set back below the pillow tops for more storage for phones, hats, etc. A removable snack table fits between the seats. Leading back to the single console, an in-floor storage locker houses water toys. The helm is redesigned for 2024, with a more sweptback look and better ­ergonomics and instrument placement; there’s also more legroom underneath for taller captains. New for ’24, Bennington has incorporated courtesy lights at the bow and portside door stoppers. Astern, the ­Swingback seating arrangement provides a lounge pad with a reversible backrest; there’s a large storage compartment under this seat. 

Bennington has priced this package very competitively; for $65,504, boaters get a well-equipped package with ­legendary Bennington quality.

High Points

• The 22-foot package offers the performance and features of much larger boats.
• Lillipad boarding ladder and tow bar on the aft deck.
• Swingback aft sun pad is versatile and comfortable.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha VMax SHO 200 four-stroke 200 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 14.5″ x 15″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 22 gal. Crew Weight: 260 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 22 SVSB-SPS appeared first on Boating Mag.

The 23 RX Sport Swingback blends classic pontoon construction materials with a modern twist. The classic comes from aluminum, naturally; the twist comes in its placement. Rather than traditional railings and panels, sleek outside cladding produces a near-seamless exterior as it wraps the boat’s lower half before giving way to an offset, interior-clad swoop of a bold accent color arching across the tapered bow and down the port and starboard sides. Overhead, a sleek sport arch mimics the flowing, uninterrupted lines below. Add a tinted ­windscreen at the helm, integrated docking lights at the bow, stainless-steel accents aft and Bennington’s logo on the bow gate to get one mean machine.

The black Phantom Package interior on our test boat really popped, and cool-touch pillow-top furniture with stitched diamond-pattern accents hinted at the cushy comforts below. As aboard most pontoons, parallel lounges are found forward. Add the optional gate-filler seat for a U-shaped lounge. Lift the seats to find storage below as well as behind the forward-facing seatbacks. Aft, a 4-inch raised helm lifted the captain above the passengers for a clear view forward. Behind, Bennington’s Deluxe Swingback features an L-shaped lounge with a removable pedestal table. The backrest pivots to form an aft-facing recliner, lies flat to form a sun bed, or ratchets up the sternmost cushions for a forward-facing recliner. A pop-up changing room waits below. An optional stainless-steel perimeter rail lets passengers use the area while running the boat.

Bennington’s ESP (Elliptical Sport Package) pairs 25-inch outer pontoons with a 32-inch elliptical tube down the middle to provide a lightning-fast time to plane and precision handling while underway. The latter showcased Bennington’s trademark hint of inside lean to inspire confidence and keep the crew planted when cornering. A 300 hp ­Yamaha proved quiet and economical when cruising, burning less than 6 gph at 20 mph. Jam the throttle forward, and 30 mph comes and goes in just over 7 seconds en route to a near-45 mph top speed.

High Points

• Upscale helm design features aircraft-style toggles, Garmin and Yamaha touchscreens, and a glove box with 12-volt dual USB chargers.
• Multiple USB/USB-C charging stations.
• Standard Rockford Fosgate sound system.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha F300
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 16″ x 15½”
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 15 gal. Crew Weight: 155 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 23 RX Sport Swingback appeared first on Boating Mag.

The Bennington 27Q Fastback is one head-turning pontoon. With twin Merc 300s, a big, beautiful arch, and a styled sweptback perimeter with dual consoles, the 27Q looks more like a fiberglass runabout than a pontoon. It has the zoom to back up the attitude; the twin Verados propelled us to a tick shy of 60 mph. Low-end acceleration is a rush, and 30 mph comes up in just 4.5 seconds. The 27Q’s most economical cruising speed of 2.3 mpg (that’s almost 9 gph) is 20.4 mph.

The 27Q features Bennington’s performance package, including huge 32-inch-diameter pontoons with lifting strakes on all three logs, extruded splash guards and an underdeck wave shield. The aluminum is 0.125 inch thick. The decking is through-bolted with fanged (toothed) elevator bolts with locking nuts. The feel and response are solid.

The bow seating features twin facing curved loungers with recessed lumbar pocketing for small-item storage. The main interior color is Anthracite, and the inset color of the perforated diamond stitching is Metallic Carbon. The flooring is Seagrass Silver vinyl. 

The tech is what you’d expect from Bennington. The dash is dominated by a 12-inch Simrad digital display/control panel, customized with Bennington’s own program and CZone switching. RGB lighting is segregated into three separately controllable zones: interior, exterior and underdeck. Dual binnacle and joystick controls master the ­Mercury Verados for the ultimate ease in docking and slow-speed maneuvering. New for ’24 are heated and cooled high-back ­captain’s and co-captain’s chairs.

Aft, the seating arrangement features traditional facing loungers, with more storage under the seats. The extended stern deck has plenty of room for watersports prep, cooling down or just hanging out. The center-mounted aluminum boarding ladder and beefy twin engine mounts are great for easy water access. Whether you’re on a big lake or a small pond, the Bennington 27Q Fastback is an investment that will provide endless hours of quality ­water time.

High Points

• Low-profile windshields give protection and look sleek and stylish.
• Huge, plush bow seating section is rich and inviting.
• Custom consoles surround the pilot and co-pilot with tech and luxury.

How We Tested

• Engine: Twin Mercury Verado V-8 four-stroke 300 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 14.6″ x 20″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 31 gal. Crew Weight: 260 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 27Q Fastback appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

Known for top-tier pontoons, Bennington Marine has long offered more-affordable models. For 2024, Bennington is shifting that paradigm, and pushing some models to the fore. This includes revamping the S and SV lines with more of the panache for which its ­six-figure models are known. The S20 Swingback SPS that we tested is the poster boy for this new philosophy. The most noticeable difference is the ­cleaner styling. Gone are the “jailhouse” vertical exterior fence supports that crossed over the stylish horizontal swoosh, and at the bow, there’s a subtle dip that gives the fence’s silhouette a sportier look. Our test boat featured a bold new color scheme with Midnight Black fencing slashed with an ­Orange Flare accent.

Interior and Accessories

New furniture with open lumbar supports adds storage space, and its Serene Soft Touch upholstery lives up to its name. Our test boat featured a Swingback double-wide stern lounger with a reversible backrest, previously available only on higher-end models. This year, the helm is all-new and is far more comfortable, with an added 8 inches of legroom and a throttle binnacle that’s relocated from the dash to the side with an armrest for added comfort and control. The console is wider and has room for a pedestal-mounted GPS screen to port. It even has an optional wireless phone charger. Other upscale available features include an artfully curved power Bimini top.

Engine

Our test pontoon featured the magic formula for entry into performance pontooning: three Sports Performance ­System tubes and a Mercury 150 FourStroke. This configuration gives it a top speed of 38.7 mph and puts all ­watersports into play. With this engine choice, mandatory hydraulic power steering is added and makes the S20 easy to drive, even when the kids want the whip endlessly cracked when tubing. A slight inward lean-in during turns will feel familiar for those used to runabouts. Standard features include a ­Lillipad Revo five-step boarding ladder with wide steps angled outward, making it easy for two- and four-legged ­crewmembers to reboard.

Style, function and brand swagger converge at a surprisingly affordable price on the Bennington S20 Swingback SPS.

Read Next: Bennington 25 Q Fastback

How We Tested

• Engine: Single 150 hp Mercury FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/15″ x 15″ Enertia stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.92:1 Fuel Load: 24 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. 

High Points

• Gate Glide innovation keeps the gates from banging when open and makes them easier to close.
• The new helm is one of the roomiest and best laid out in its class.
• The Swingback Lounge rates high in comfort and versatility.

Low Points

• No center-tube storage is available on the S20.
• The non-adjustable headrests for the captain seats are too low for taller ­occupants.

Toughest Competitor

The Harris Sunliner 210 SL ($72,306 with a Mercury 150 FourStroke) offers another entry-level portal to pontoon luxury that is slightly larger and a bit more expensive. Its three-tube option features a 2-inch-larger center tube than the Bennington, which gives it a one-person-larger payload. Harris is a Brunswick company, so Mercury is the only engine option. Bennington also offers Yamaha and Torqueedo engine options.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Bennington S20 Swingback SPS appeared first on Boating Mag.

The Bennington 27Q Fastback is one head-turning pontoon. With twin Merc 300s, a big, beautiful arch, and a styled sweptback perimeter with dual consoles, the 27Q looks more like a fiberglass runabout than a pontoon. It has the zoom to back up the attitude; the twin Verados propelled us to a tick shy of 60 mph. Low-end acceleration is a rush, and 30 mph comes up in just 4.5 seconds. The 27Q’s most economical cruising speed of 2.3 mpg (that’s almost 9 gph) is 20.4 mph.

The 27Q features Bennington’s performance package, including huge 32-inch-diameter pontoons with lifting strakes on all three logs, extruded splash guards and an underdeck wave shield. The aluminum is 0.125 inch thick. The decking is through-bolted with fanged (toothed) elevator bolts with locking nuts. The feel and response are solid.

The bow seating features twin facing curved loungers with recessed lumbar pocketing for small-item storage. The main interior color is Anthracite, and the inset color of the perforated diamond stitching is Metallic Carbon. The flooring is Seagrass Silver vinyl. 

The tech is what you’d expect from Bennington. The dash is dominated by a 12-inch Simrad digital display/control panel, customized with Bennington’s own program and CZone switching. RGB lighting is segregated into three separately controllable zones: interior, exterior and underdeck. Dual binnacle and joystick controls master the ­Mercury Verados for the ultimate ease in docking and slow-speed maneuvering. New for ’24 are heated and cooled high-back ­captain’s and co-captain’s chairs.

Aft, the seating arrangement features traditional facing loungers, with more storage under the seats. The extended stern deck has plenty of room for watersports prep, cooling down or just hanging out. The center-mounted aluminum boarding ladder and beefy twin engine mounts are great for easy water access. Whether you’re on a big lake or a small pond, the Bennington 27Q Fastback is an investment that will provide endless hours of quality ­water time.

High Points

• Low-profile windshields give protection and look sleek and stylish.
• Huge, plush bow seating section is rich and inviting.
• Custom consoles surround the pilot and co-pilot with tech and luxury.

How We Tested

• Engine: Twin Mercury Verado V-8 four-stroke 300 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Revolution 14.6″ x 20″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.85:1 Fuel Load: 31 gal. Crew Weight: 260 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 27Q Fastback appeared first on Boating Mag.

The 23 RX Sport Swingback blends classic pontoon construction materials with a modern twist. The classic comes from aluminum, naturally; the twist comes in its placement. Rather than traditional railings and panels, sleek outside cladding produces a near-seamless exterior as it wraps the boat’s lower half before giving way to an offset, interior-clad swoop of a bold accent color arching across the tapered bow and down the port and starboard sides. Overhead, a sleek sport arch mimics the flowing, uninterrupted lines below. Add a tinted ­windscreen at the helm, integrated docking lights at the bow, stainless-steel accents aft and Bennington’s logo on the bow gate to get one mean machine.

The black Phantom Package interior on our test boat really popped, and cool-touch pillow-top furniture with stitched diamond-pattern accents hinted at the cushy comforts below. As aboard most pontoons, parallel lounges are found forward. Add the optional gate-filler seat for a U-shaped lounge. Lift the seats to find storage below as well as behind the forward-facing seatbacks. Aft, a 4-inch raised helm lifted the captain above the passengers for a clear view forward. Behind, Bennington’s Deluxe Swingback features an L-shaped lounge with a removable pedestal table. The backrest pivots to form an aft-facing recliner, lies flat to form a sun bed, or ratchets up the sternmost cushions for a forward-facing recliner. A pop-up changing room waits below. An optional stainless-steel perimeter rail lets passengers use the area while running the boat.

Bennington’s ESP (Elliptical Sport Package) pairs 25-inch outer pontoons with a 32-inch elliptical tube down the middle to provide a lightning-fast time to plane and precision handling while underway. The latter showcased Bennington’s trademark hint of inside lean to inspire confidence and keep the crew planted when cornering. A 300 hp ­Yamaha proved quiet and economical when cruising, burning less than 6 gph at 20 mph. Jam the throttle forward, and 30 mph comes and goes in just over 7 seconds en route to a near-45 mph top speed.

High Points

• Upscale helm design features aircraft-style toggles, Garmin and Yamaha touchscreens, and a glove box with 12-volt dual USB chargers.
• Multiple USB/USB-C charging stations.
• Standard Rockford Fosgate sound system.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha F300
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 16″ x 15½”
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 15 gal. Crew Weight: 155 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 23 RX Sport Swingback appeared first on Boating Mag.

Delivering a stellar combination of performance and value, Bennington proves it can compete at any level with the SVSB-SPS. Rigged with Yamaha’s VMax SHO 200, we planed in just 3.3 seconds, reaching 30 mph in a cat-quick 6.1 seconds. Top speed was a healthy 45 mph at 5,900 rpm. In the midrange, this Bennington-Yamaha package was quiet as well as thrifty; our decibel meter recorded just 69 dB(A) while sipping fuel at 3.6 gph (that’s 4 mpg) at a best-cruise speed of 14 mph and 2,500 rpm. Handling was ­sure-footed and ­predictable at all speeds; we carved turns with little heel-over leaning, and skipped over boat wakes and wind chop without drama.

Aboard, the SVSB-SPS is new and ­redesigned from the deck up for 2024. New for 2024 is the Swingback aft lounge seat, previously only offered on Bennington’s higher-end models. The intent is to offer this model as a package all-inclusive of most options, making it an easier ­purchase for new boaters.

Interior seating vinyl is a Serene Soft Touch pillow-top style, with colors that include a shadow gray with carbon accents for a subdued and tasteful combination. Seagrass is the name of the ­vinyl flooring.

In the bow, dual facing loungers form a gathering place, with lumbar areas set back below the pillow tops for more storage for phones, hats, etc. A removable snack table fits between the seats. Leading back to the single console, an in-floor storage locker houses water toys. The helm is redesigned for 2024, with a more sweptback look and better ­ergonomics and instrument placement; there’s also more legroom underneath for taller captains. New for ’24, Bennington has incorporated courtesy lights at the bow and portside door stoppers. Astern, the ­Swingback seating arrangement provides a lounge pad with a reversible backrest; there’s a large storage compartment under this seat. 

Bennington has priced this package very competitively; for $65,504, boaters get a well-equipped package with ­legendary Bennington quality.

High Points

• The 22-foot package offers the performance and features of much larger boats.
• Lillipad boarding ladder and tow bar on the aft deck.
• Swingback aft sun pad is versatile and comfortable.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha VMax SHO 200 four-stroke 200 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 14.5″ x 15″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 22 gal. Crew Weight: 260 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 22 SVSB-SPS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Bennington’s fishing-friendly 20 SF-SPS might come from the brand’s most affordable series, but we were impressed by its features and construction. Exterior fencing eschewed boring rectangular patterns with a bold swoop backed in a contrasting color and texture. Two-color asymmetrical patterns with Serene Soft Touch vinyl and a Simtex accent add an upscale feel to the interior seating. The roto-molded helm was impressively contoured and capped with an acrylic top and glare-reducing brow. ­Vinyl weave flooring came standard. 

Designed as a fishing-focused entry in the Bennington lineup, the SF features a pair of fishing seats forward, upgraded on our test boat to high-back captain-style recliners. Sorry, you can’t lie about the size of your catch; roto-molded corner units feature lids with rulers. One serves as a livewell, the other for storage. Rail-mounted rod holders near each chair are ready to secure a pair of rods vertically.

There’s plenty more aft. Perimeter fencing stretches the length of the deck, making space for two additional bass seats with fold-down backrests. A central tackle station adds an additional livewell, two more rod holders on each side, an etched ruler, and a pair of cup holders and rod holders. A trio of slide-out tackle boxes are within reach. An optional roto-molded rod locker can be positioned inside the starboard fencing. Our test boat’s textured vinyl flooring below seemed like an odd pairing, but it’s attractive, comfortable underfoot, and promises to be readily washable.

Bennington’s SPS (Sports Performance System) is ready to get you to your favorite fishing hole quickly as well as comfortably cruise the local lake. It includes a trio of full-length 25-inch pontoons, with lifting strakes on the center tube, performance foils on the insides of the outside logs, solid round keels, and an underdeck wave shield. SeaStar hydraulic steering rounds out things. Underway, handling was sharp and smooth. During testing, a Yamaha 115 outboard produced a brief 3.7-second time to plane and 34.3 mph top speed.

High Points

• L-shaped lounge opposite the helm provides social seating. 
• Optional Trolling Motor Gate features a panel-less bottom half for installation.
• Saltwater Package has sacrificial anodes and sealed lifting strakes.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha F115
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha 13¾” x 14″ 3-blade aluminum
• Gear Ratio: 2.15:1 Fuel Load: 11 gal. Crew Weight: 155 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bennington 20 SF-SPS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

If your search criteria for a new pontoon includes big impressions at the local watering hole or ­sandbar, Bennington’s 25 Q Fastback should be a top choice. It presents itself as a commanding authority on seaworthy fun, with a big 28-foot-by-8-foot-6-inch party platform and a Yamaha 425 hp XTO ­Offshore outboard. As equipped, it’s a BMW 7 Series cruiser for the water.

Engine

Twisting a 16 5/8-by-19-inch Yamaha Offshore stainless-steel three-blade wheel, this package combines heart-pumping punch, strong top-end speed and good fuel mileage. Before the throttle is decked, passengers are advised to hold on. The 25 Q rips from a dead idle to 30 mph in just over 5 seconds. Acceleration is similar to a high-performance jet aircraft—smooth yet unyielding power. Top speed is 53.5 mph at 6,000 rpm. You won’t outrun the fastest ­watercraft and dual-outboard pontoons, but there won’t be many that can keep up. You trade some fuel economy with the Yamaha power upgrade because 425 four-stroke ponies drink a lot of fuel. At full song, it’s sucking 38 gph. Those interested in this rig might not care because most of the water time will likely be spent in the cruise range, from just on plane to perhaps 4,000 rpm. Our best cruise of 20 mph and 2,500 rpm revealed 3.2 mpg and 6.2 gph. With its 50-gallon tank full, that’s a 170-mile range leaving 10 percent in reserve, so you’ll be able to run a whole weekend of cruising and watersports towing ­without refilling.

Bennington’s Elliptical Sport Package (ESP) hull features 25-inch-round outer tubes and a 32-inch-elliptical center tube with lifting strakes. A direct benefit of this design is confidence and sure-footed handling. This big craft is smooth and event-free; the hull length spans wind chop and wakes with ease, while the wide beam makes it handle in turns like a smaller boat, turning flat without any scary banking, even when tight turns are cranked at speed. The lifting strakes are well-designed and well-placed, providing added lift and stability at speed, the hull rising out of the water and lifting clean as positive engine trim is applied.

Interior and Accessories

The 25 Q is made for big fun. It’s rated for 15 aboard and 4,650 pounds, so large party groups are not a problem, and the interior is massively spacious. Your guests will jaw-drop at the abundant luxury aboard. In the bow, our test boat’s smooth fiberglass swept-back perimeter enclosure was gelcoated in a deep Rossa Red with metallic white ­accents. Stainless-steel docking and navigation light housings accent the futuristic look. The perimeter of the deck is contoured with an ever-so-subtle radius to make docking ­easier—a small touch, but one that Bennington engineers have studied, and it works. Stainless-steel pop-up cleats are handy at the fore and aft corners of the deck to make tie-ups hassle-free. The Sport interior is a perfect match for the creamy gelcoat. It features a custom cross-stitched Simtex vinyl in ­Arctic Ice White, with Rossa Red accenting the perforated, diamond-stitched offset color.

The entire bow area is one huge wraparound lounger. At least six can relax here without crowding. USB ports, beverage holders and speakers for the Rockford ­Fosgate audio system are tucked back in a recessed pocket where things like phones can be handily stored, but not lost in between the cushions. In-floor storage uses the center ’toon interior for life jackets, watersports toys and the full boat cover. The captain’s console is highly engineered and designed; sleek and sweptback, it’s raised 4½ inches off the deck for visibility and features a low but effective Lexan windscreen, recessed legroom underneath, a Commander 7-inch digital info screen (9- or 12-inch Garmin or Simrad screens are upgrades), a custom tilt steering wheel with power hydraulic steering, and that killer Rockford M2 sound system with a subwoofer, eight speakers and 1,050 total watts of output. Twin reclining, swiveling and sliding captain’s chairs fit the captain and first mate, while an optional ottoman (housing a cooler inside) lets the mate put their feet up.

Astern, twin facing curved loungers make up the aft conversation pit. The aft deck features the heavily beefed-up mounting necessary for the 900-plus-pound Yamaha V-8 outboard, with an extended platform for swimming and sunning.

Avalon’s 2785 Excalibur fitted with a Mercury Racing 450R outboard is 28 feet, 6 inches long by 8 feet, 6 inches wide, holds 16 aboard, and runs just under 56 mph with a dual-console layout. It retails for $169,482. Harris offers the Grand Mariner 250SL, which is 27 feet, 11 inches long and 8 feet, 6 inches wide. Rigged with a Mercury 300 hp Verado outboard, it hits 47-plus mph and sells for $155,017.

Read Next: Bennington L23 Swingback

Quality is a word used often when ­describing Bennington’s products, and it ­aptly describes the design, build and rigging of this boat. Duck your head under the console, and you’ll see a clean assembly with neat wiring and hose routing. Look under the deck, and you’ll see quality welds and a high-strength aluminum superstructure. The furniture is of the highest grade, from the seat bases to the Simtex vinyl and high-durability stitching. In short, the Bennington 25 Q represents a solid investment in family boating.

How We Tested

• Engine: Yamaha 5.6L XTO Offshore four-stroke 425 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Reliance 16 5/8″ x 19″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.79:1 Fuel Load: 20 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.

High Points

• Elliptical Sports Package uses the extra power of Yamaha’s 425 hp V-8 to its full potential.
• Lillipad Revo swim ladder is innovative and aesthetically integrated for the way for
  people and pets like to climb back aboard.
• Raised helm positions the pilot almost 5 inches higher, enhancing sightlines for maneuvering, especially with passengers in the bow.

Low Points

• Top quality like I saw aboard this Bennington costs top dollar.
• Bow storage-locker door is hinged on the bottom, creating the likelihood that simple gravity might inadvertently open it, or it could get stepped on. I’d rather see it hinged on the side.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2023 Bennington 25 Q Fastback appeared first on Boating Mag.