Tested By Capt. Dan Armitage

Bennington’s 2275 FSi is a 22-foot-long, feature-packed fish and ski model that is as comfortable as it is convertible. The extended ski transom offers extra deck space providing a premium-size platform from which to enjoy everything from active watersports to serious fishing – and everything in between. Pleasure cruisers will appreciate Bennington’s signature seating, the most comfortable in the business, while anglers are sure to be attracted to the boat’s built-in rod holders and storage areas for their fishing rigs.

Up front, fishing stations at each corner feature rod holders, cup holders and tackle trays practically in the lap of anglers seated on comfortable pedestal seats and in perfect position for landing the big ones. Because the playpen encompasses the entire deck, right up to the bow, fishermen have lots of room to engage in their angling. An extra wide gate on the bow allows room for a bow mounted trilling motor, and combination navigation and docking light units built into each forward corner fishing station, as well as courtesy lights on the cockpit side of each, make fishing and coming in after dark an illuminating option for avid anglers.

Just aft of the two fishing stations forward is a huge, 22 gallon combination livewell and baitwell, complete with built-in bait bucket, hidden underneath a padded bench seat that is built into the front of the steering console.

The console features tilt steering, a quick release windshield, Soft Touch sport steering wheel, fully adjustable captain’s seat with two cup holders, full instrumentation including a flush-mounted fish finder and a marine grade AM/FM cassette stereo, all standard.

To port of the helm is deeply padded wraparound seating that hides storage areas in roto-molded seat bases and features a handy trash storage bin in its chaise lounge design. A flush-mount base in the deck between the captain’s chair and the seating area accommodates a portable cockpit table. Aft of the helm is a lockable rod storage compartment built into the starboard wall.

Behind the bench seating at the aft end of the cockpit is a large, padded sunning lounge that hides a pop-up privacy enclosure. Aft of the sun lounge is the rear fishing deck, which features a pedestal seat next to a deluxe fishing station that includes vertical rod storage racks, flush-mount rod holders for trolling, an aerated baitwell and bait cutting trays. At the base of the station is a flush mounted tacklebox, and the rear fishing area extends all the way to the boat’s transom.

Aft of the helm station to starboard is a gate that leads to a swim platform that offers access to the engine, and allows swimmers and water sports enthusiasts to board easily via a folding swim ladder. An optional ski pylon for mounting on the transom is offered, as well. And because the 2275 FSi features the extended ski transom, the outboard is easy to see and access.

The entire cockpit can be protected from sun or inclement weather by Bennington’s popular Bimini top system, which extends a full nine feet wide and features easy-to-use, quick release functions for fast deployment and breakdown.

The twin 23-inch-diameter pontoons make the 2275FSi an extremely stable platform from which to fish, ski or cruise, and with two ‘toons offering minimal water resistance the boat is very fuel efficient. Rigged with the maximum 90 hp in a 2005 Yamaha Four Stroke, the test boat reached speeds in excess of 23 mph, burning 9.3 gph. At optimum cruising speed, which we found to be a shade under 16 mph at 4,000 rpm, the FSi burned only 3.8 gph, which would allow us a cruising range of 73 miles on the standard 26 gallon fuel tank.

• Top speed for the Bennington 2275 FSi is 23.1 mph (37.2 kph), burning 9.3 gallons per hour (gph) or 35.2 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Bennington 2275 FSi is 15.8 mph (25.4 kph), and the boat gets 4.20 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.79 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 98 miles (157.72 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 90-hp Yamaha F90 4-stroke.