2013 Bennington 2250 GBR

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Richard Crowder

To quote from Bennington’s website, “When we started Bennington in 1997, we had a vision for our company that included a commitment to continuously improve product quality and quality of life... Through hard work, belief in our team and constant innovation Bennington has been honored with more quality and satisfaction awards than any pontoon maker in the industry.”

For 2013, Bennington, of Elkhart, Indiana, offers an amazing range of pontoon boats in four trim series, Q, R, G, and S; eight boat lengths from seventeen to twenty-eight feet; five basic floorplan layouts; with some models available in sterndrive or outboard power; plus, in Bennington’s words, “We offer 52 floor plans in various trim levels, styles and lengths with literally hundreds of available options, so that you can customize a Bennington to fit your specific lifestyle.” As you can imagine, there is certainly a Bennington available to suit whatever your tastes and boating lifestyle.

The 2250 GBR (third trim level G-Series with Entertainment Bar layout) subject of this review offers lots of standard equipment, but also literally dozens of options from which to choose in order to allow you to enjoy your boat exactly the way you want to.

Stepping aboard the bow platform and through the centre bow gate (there are three gates in total, the other two being at the stern and on the port side), are opposite side L-shaped seating – a three-seater lounge to starboard and a two-seater bench to port. Aft of the port bench, then the port boarding gate, is another stretch-out lounge. Opposite this lounge is the driver’s helm console and G Series reclining captain’s chair. Behind the port lounge is the reason for the name-sake of this model layout – the entertainment bar with another two captain-like chairs.

Bennington is proud of its seating construction using “Duraframe Seat bases.” “All Bennington seating features exclusive Icon™ Soft-Touch Upholstery. The Infinity Topcoat is engineered for ultimate UV stability, easy cleaning, resistance to abrasions, mildew and stains. A Satin texture weave backing allows for smooth, tailored, instant-recovery upholstery with no puckering, or bagging. The unique high density foam used in five compressions provides the perfect combination of support and plush comfort.”

Other interior standard features include “high performance” carpet, a kidney shaped teak table, and washdown. The one piece fibreglass driver’s console includes teak dash accents a low profile tinted windscreen, locking side access door with soft-side cooler, and a custom, tilting steering wheel with teak accents. A standard custom Sterling gauge package includes tach, fuel, trim, and hour meter. The standard stereo is a Sony GT series CD/MP3 player.

Other standard features on the 2250 GBR include 25” pontoons, docking lights, extended aft deck with Tuff-Ply vinyl flooring plus a wide-tread telescoping boarding ladder, 10-foot bimini top plus playpen cover, and underdeck spray deflectors.

The optional equipment list is where the fun begins. Choose special pre-rig packages either with Mercury Verado with Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) and SmartCraft gauges or with Yamaha with Command Link gauges. Choose from several special performance packages including Bennington’s Elliptical Sport Package (ESP) designed for high horsepower applications and includes a patented 32” elliptical centre pontoon with lifting strakes and much more. The Express Performance package offers increased bow lift and more speed with a modified centre tube.

The Sport Performance System (SPS) is an “affordable” package giving a matching 25” centre pontoon with lifting strakes. Or the standard 25” pontoons can be replaced with twin 32” elliptical pontoons, or even choose from a few more pontoon-related option packages. Plus you can choose many individual pontoon-related options such as lifting strakes, solid keels, underdeck wave shields, hydraulic steering, etc.

Choose from seven panel colours, six canvas colours, eight accent panel colours, three vinyl colours, five interior accent colours, nine graphics packages, four furniture styles, five furniture add-on’s, and eleven flooring options. There are three Garmin GPS/depth sounders, four stereo options, an elevated helm, and a GPS speedometer available for the helm.

Three galley options are available, five canvas tops/enclosures from which to choose, and seventeen “amenities” including such notables as several LED lighting options, privacy chaise with or without a porta potti, ski pylon or ski tow bar.

The above options only skim the surface of this incredible range of individuality.

2013 Bennington 2250 GBR Photo Gallery

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