Bennington’s 25 RX Sport cut a dashing figure at the dock, but it’s the boat’s performance that had tongues wagging from those who took their turn at the wheel. Yes, speed impressed. Slam the throttle down and the 25 RX reaches 30 mph in 6.6 seconds before topping out at 47 mph. It’s the boat’s top-shelf handling, however, that left a lasting impression. Crank the wheel at speed and the RX banks into turns with an intuitive lean and never loses its bite. Credit the latter to Bennington’s ESP Performance Package. It pairs 25-inch outer pontoons with a 32-inch elliptical center tube to rival the handling of a V-hull.
This Bennington also looks as good as it rides. While the RX Sport retains a pontoon’s traditional aluminum exterior, the packaging is sexy-sleek. Smooth panels clad much of the perimeter’s lower half, producing a near-seamless finish. Above, interior cladding offers a swooping accent stripe, producing a three-dimensional recess that curves downward from the bow to the aft deck. Paired in a metallic gold and white on our test boat, the combination created a masculine yet elegant aesthetic on the exterior and a decidedly upscale vibe to interior accommodations. Bennington’s winged logo, inset LED nav and docking lights, and a stainless-mesh combo at the wall’s trailing edge complete the picture.
Bennington’s Fastback layout finishes off the back half of the boat with parallel lounges featuring angled, aft-facing seatbacks, bolstered thigh support, and hinged cushions to access roto-molded storage below. The optional gate filler cushion completes a large, U-shaped lounge.
A near-identical approach is found at the bow. Amidships, twin captain’s chairs await both port side and atop the 4-inch raised driving platform. Here we found Bennington’s new Commander 2.0 helm with a tempered-glass windshield above, 40-quart cooler below, and a trio of touchscreens on the console, including a 7-inch Vessel Control, 9-inch Garmin nav unit, and a new 12-inch Vivid UX digital dash front and center. The latter automatically switches between Run and Float modes to tailor info on the display to how the boat is being used at the time.
High Points
- Standards include a Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 Bluetooth audio system, remote, RGB-lit speakers and LilliPad boarding ladder.
- Multiple wireless charging ports and USB chargers.
- Optional in-floor anchor storage is handy and includes cleat.
How We Tested
- Engine: Yamaha F350
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha Saltwater Series II 15 ½” x 17″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 86 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $216,055 (with Yamaha 350) |
| LOA: | 28’3″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft (max): | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 4,243 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 14/1,900 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 116 gal. |
Bennington Marine – Elkhart, Indiana; benningtonmarine.com
