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
| Price: | $329,257 (as tested) |
| LOA: | 28’3″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft: | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 4,791 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 15/2,454 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 83.4 gal. |
