SEE THE
VIDEO
PONTOON
BOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2018 | 112 | BOATINGMAG.COMBOAT BUYERS GUIDE
SPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1000 4.34 5.00 1.30 3.34 3.85 106 122 0 64
1500 6.26 7.20 2.20 2.84 3.27 90 104 1 67
2000 8.78 10.10 3.40 2.58 2.97 82 94 2 70
2500 13.47 15.50 4.80 2.81 3.23 89 102 2 77
3000 17.64 20.30 6.30 2.80 3.22 89 102 2 78
3500 21.29 24.50 8.10 2.63 3.02 83 96 2 77
4000 24.94 28.70 10.90 2.29 2.63 72 83 2 80
4500 28.68 33.00 14.20 2.02 2.32 64 74 2 82
5000 32.59 37.50 17.70 1.84 2.12 58 67 2 83
5500 35.89 41.30 22.30 1.61 1.85 51 59 2 85
5800 38.32 44.10 25.70 1.49 1.72 47 54 1 87
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEEDHigh Points
XUpscale touches include three-
spoke stainless-steel steering
wheel with leather wrap, and
Roswell Vamp Spin speakers on
the tow arch.
XCenter tube adds not only stability
and performance but also conve-
nience; the added space makes
possible a large in-fl oor ski locker.
XStandard features include sea-
grass fl ooring, Surlast mooring
cover, LED docking lights, 10-foot
Bimini top, and Striker 4 fi sh graph.Specs
· LOA: 25'3" · BEAM: 8'6"
· DRY WEIGHT: 3,828 lb. · SEATING/
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 13/1,837 lb.
· FUEL CAPACITY: 35.2 gal.How We Tested
ENGINE: Yamaha F300
PROP: Yamaha 15^1 / 2 " x 16" Saltwater
Series II 3-blade stainless steel
GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1
FUEL LOAD: 21 gal.
CREW WEIGHT: 315 lb.
Price
$98,140 (with test power/
Elliptical Sport Package)BENNINGTON
23 RSBWA
perimeter of the bow. That’s a lot of space
for people to hang out and hold conversa-
tions. Time for tunes? Note the USB ports
hidden by the armrests.
As always, Bennington embraces the
details. Couches feature oversize pillow
tops with contrasting colors, diamond-
stitched lumbars and similarly contrasting
cushion ends. The full windshield sports a
classy stainless-steel cap. The port con-
sole off ers a granite-style prep space along
with a stainless-steel sink and faucet, and
the helm has a stainless three-spoke wheel
and brushed-aluminum gauges. And come
nightfall, speakers and cup holders all fea-
ture RGB lighting that can be dialed in to a
specifi c color or rotated through all shades
of the rainbow.Bennington’s 23 RSBWA is rich in crea-
ture comforts, but it is this boat’s ride that
truly may be its most memorable attri-
bute. Credit the brand’s ESP performance
package, a design that pairs two 25-inch-
diameter outer pontoons featuring perform-
ance foils with an elliptically
shaped 32-inch center tube
with lifting strakes. Along
with an underdeck wave
shield and power-assist steer-
ing, it promises enhanced
stability and quick planing,
but most impressive is what
the features do for the boat’s
cornering ability. Powered
by a Yamaha F300 outboard,
the 23 RSBWA carved beau-
tifully during turns, with the
smooth, inside-lean feel of a
V-hull. Top speed peaked at
44.1 mph, and it handled well
at all planing speeds.Abovedecks, Bennington mixes more
traditional fencing forward with dual
fi berglass consoles amidships and an airy
open stern. The latter section of the boat
features a deep 6-foot-4-inch-by-4-foot-
6-inch sun pad with angled backrest, a
great spot to relax with more than a few
friends. (The boat can fi t 13 people total.)
Flip that backrest upright and it creates
back-to-back lounges, one facing the swim
platform and the other joining the two
captain’s chairs located behind each con-
sole in the main cockpit. Step all the way
forward and a pair of 4-foot couches run
parallel in the bow. Add the optional gate
seat and you create nearly 13 feet of seat-
ing space in a lounge that wraps the entirePHOTOS: BILL DOSTERBENNINGTON PONTOONS
Elkhart, Indiana; 888-906-2628; benningtonmarine.comTo see our video
review of the 23
RSBWA, scan
this tag or visit
boatingmag
.com/bbg18/
bennington
23rsbwa.
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