The Bennington 2275 RCW has an 8'6" (2.59 m) beam and is equipped with the optional Elliptical Sport Package (ESP) which features a 32" (81 cm) elliptical center toon to enhance performance for buyers who plan on watersports towing.

The mission of Bennington’s 2275 RCW is to be a versatile and luxurious platform for both entertaining and watersports. When it comes to towing, you need a tri-toon so the boat has enough buoyancy to get up and go, and virtually all pontoon boat builders offer a center toon. But Bennington does them one better by offering their ESP package. Add enough horses strapped on the stern, and it enables the 2275 to break fast from the gate.

To our mind, four things sets this Bennington apart from her competition -- the optional elliptical toon, her long list of options that let buyers customize the boat to their specific purpose and pocketbook, her rugged construction, and the builder’s warranty program. Let's look at the center toon, some options and the warranty, and leave construction for another day.



If you want max performance, go for the optional the ESP package, which includes optional lifting strakes on the center toon if bought without the package) and performance foils on the outer toons. Note the standard splash guards on the front of the two outer toons.

Play the Elliptical Toon

This special, optional elliptical toon is made to order for watersports because it enables fast hole shots to make it easy for both wakeboarders and skiers to get up. Bennington has an optional package that it calls ESP (Elliptical Sport Package) ESP displaces more water and sits higher for a smooth, dry ride. It Includes two 25" diameter pontoons with performance foils and a 32" center elliptical tube with lifting strakes, SeaStar hydraulic steering and an underdeck waveshield.

The elliptical center toon has 1,000 lbs. (454.5 kg.) more buoyancy than the standard 25" (63 cm) toon, which allows the boat to be rated for 14 passengers, three more than with the standard 25" toons. Further, ESP also includes twin performance foils to help the 2275 RCW plane faster and make sharper turns.



Here is a view of the stern showing the optional 32" elliptical center toon that adds 1,000 lbs. (454.5 kgs.) of buoyancy. But, if you are only going to use the boat for casual cruising, you won’t need it.

If you want to hot-dog this tune, the ESP package is the way to go and with it the boat is rated for up to a 250-hp outboard engine, the highest that any of the 2275 RCW units can handle.



In the stern of the 2275 RCW there are two aft-facing loungers (one port and one starboard) such as the one seen here.

Or, For Casual Cruising.

Not everyone wants a watersports platform, and the 2275 RCW can serve those needs as well, and for a lot less money in options and engines. The standard boat comes with several nice features such as a "keel" in each toon, rugged stainless steel hardware, and plush "Soft Touch" upholstery. The standard boat is rated for 11 passengers, and there are actually comfortable seats for 11 people aboard -- with two of them in recliners facing aft!



This is a view of the 2275 RCW with several options added: aft teak decking, snap-in carpet over the vinyl decking, the coffee table, and the RLX Interior and bow gate seat.

Some standard items on the boat which are noteworthy are: Sony M6 stereo with 6 speakers, carpet, powder-coated seat hinges, a privacy enclosure, 10' (3.04 m) Bimini top, two portable cup holders, tilt steering and a boat cover, otherwise known in the toon trade as a "playpen" cover. With these features, plus the addition of a 50-hp engine, a casual cruiser who wants to entertain will be all set. (Bring a cooler with cold beverages.)

Engine Options

Because Bennington is an independent builder you can have any of the five major brands of outboard engines installed on the stern. Power options start with 50-hp and go as high as 250. The standard 2275 is rated for a max of 150-hp. Bennington recommends getting optional power steering for any engine over 150-hp.



This is the optional elevated helm platform which we recommend for improved visibility. The 2275 RCW comes standard with the helm seat shown, but can be upgraded to an extra-wide seat.

Warranties R Us

Another aspect of the 2275 RCW -- and for that matter, all of the Bennington boats -- is the warranty package that the builder offers. Frankly, it is one of the best that we have seen on not only a pontoon boat, but any boat. We recommend that you read the fine print of the warranty, but basically here is what it says--

*5-Year Bow-to-Stern Warranty on labor and materials including, electronics, carpet and upholstery. The latter is the biggie, because Bennington says that includes fading! In the fine print there are some exceptions which mean that when you are not using the boat you must cover the boat with the canvas cover that comes standard. Fair enough.

*Limited Lifetime Deck Warranty on the plywood deck. The wood is 7-ply and it is pressure treated marine grade plywood. This is for the original owner, but it can be transferred if done within 10 years of the sale. We have all seen what used to happen to plywood decks on pontoon boats, so we think that it is noteworthy that Bennington is making this offer.



Bennington calls its standard boat cover a “Surlast” cover, and that name contains a message: use the cover and the vinyl upholstery will keep its luster for many years.

*Lifetime Structural Warranty on the structure, gates, pontoons, aluminum channels, motor mounts, seat frames and other components. The company says, "If anything goes wrong, we'll fix it."

We like Bennington's warranty program, and we also like the fact that it states that it will pay 100% of the dealer's hourly shop rate. That is huge because it eliminates hassle for the owner and aggravation of the dealer. Also, the builder says it pays 100% of all warranty items and does not pro-rate as some builders do over the life of the warranty. As we said, warranties don’t get much better than this one.



The Bennington 2275 RCW is trailerable. The boat shown here has the optional Elliptical Sport Package.

Recommendation

Bennington 2275 RCW is at the high-end of the price/quality continuum in pontoon boats. There are several other fine brand names there so if you are considering one of them, then you should probably add the Bennington 2275 RCW to your list of "must see" pontoon boats.