PONTOON
BOAT BUYERS GUIDE 2018 | 124 | BOATINGMAG.COMBOAT BUYERS GUIDE
SEE THE
VIDEOSPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATIONnaut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1000 3.56 4.10 0.90 3.96 4.56 76 88 0 55
1500 4.69 5.40 1.10 4.27 4.91 82 95 0 65
2000 6.86 7.90 1.90 3.61 4.16 70 80 2 67
2500 9.30 10.70 2.20 4.23 4.86 81 94 2 70
3000 13.90 16.00 5.20 2.67 3.08 51 59 2 70
3500 17.38 20.00 5.00 3.48 4.00 67 77 2 76
4000 21.03 24.20 6.80 3.09 3.56 60 69 2 79
4500 26.68 30.70 10.80 2.47 2.84 48 55 1 87
5000 29.55 34.00 10.10 2.93 3.37 56 65 1 87
5500 33.11 38.10 15.30 2.16 2.49 42 48 1 88
5600 33.89 39.00 15.70 2.16 2.48 42 48 1 90
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEEDHigh Points
XBennington’s Saltwater Series pro-
tection includes sacrifi cial anodes
and sealed ends on each keel that
thwart corrosion for boaters in
coastal environments.
XStandard sea-grass fl ooring
continues the upscale look while
proving more durable and easier to
maintain than carpet.
XAll-in-one Kicker KMC1 stereo
system provides the tunes; the
Bimini top offers 8 feet 6 inches of
headroom and extends a full
10 feet, offering plenty of shade
for occupants.Specs
· LOA: 21'11.5" · BEAM: 8'6"
· DRY WEIGHT: 2,504 lb. · SEATING/
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 12/1,624 lb.
· FUEL CAPACITY: 21.4 gal.How We Tested
ENGINE: Yamaha F150
PROP: Yamaha Reliance 14.25" x 17"
3-blade stainless steel
GEAR RATIO: 2.00:1
FUEL LOAD: 15 gal.
CREW WEIGHT: 315 lb.
Price
$46,219 (with test power/
Sport Performance System)BENNINGTON
21 SLX Premium
angle when climbing aboard after a dip or
a tow session.
Bennington’s Sport Performance Sys-
tem combines a trio of full-length 25-inch
pontoons with lifting strakes on the cen-
ter tube and performance foils on the
inside of each outer log, along with an
underdeck wave shield, solid round keels,
and for the driver, the benefi ts of SeaStar
hydraulic steering. The combination pro-
duced a gentle inside lean while swooping
through turns and, with our test boat’s
Yamaha 150, a top speed of 39 mph. At
slower speeds, the 21 SLX Premium held
plane at 16.8 mph and 3,000 rpm, which
captain and crew will appreciate if con-
fronted with a wind chop or one generated
by heavy boat traffi c on the weekend.Bennington has a knack for making even
lower-priced models look decidedly posh
and upscale. For instance, step aboard the
21 SLX Premium and your eye is imme-
diately drawn to the stylized radius bow
lounges with their designer-infl uenced
two-tone color scheme and
fabriclike Simtex vinyl, the
latter a choice that won’t feel
sticky on hot summer after-
noons. Large lumbar cutouts
sport contrasting shades
in a chic diamond pattern.
Pillow-top back cushions in-
vite you to settle in for the
ride. Aft, fi nd the same rich
treatment on the L-shaped
lounge, sun pad and helm
seat. Even the fi berglass helm
blended seamlessly into our
test boat’s driftwood color
scheme. Combined with an
optional blackout packagethat wraps all exterior aluminum above
the waterline in matte black, the result is
one classy pontoon.
Details stand out. Take a look at how
the brushed-fi nish dash panels reveal no
exposed fasteners. Dual dash nooks, the
perfect spot for a phone and a set of keys,
feature nonslip as well as drains to avoid
puddling. The cockpit table is trapezoidal
in shape to ease traffi c fl ow around it. The
curtain for the optional pop-up changing
room hidden below the sun pad widens
toward the bottom and even snaps to the
exterior frame so as not to either expose
or entangle the occupant on a windy day.
Even the boarding ladder shows thought,
swooping in an S pattern to off er a gentlerPHOTOS: BILL DOSTERBENNINGTON PONTOON
Elkhart, Indiana; 888-906-2628; benningtonmarine.comTo see our video
review of the 21
SLX Premium,
scan this tag or
visit boatingmag
.com/bbg18/
bennington21slx
premium.
C
CERTIFIED
TEST
RESULTS