Bennington is a serious player in the world of pontoon boats, building around 55 aluminium vessels per day at its 3,530m² Elkhart, Indiana plant.
The biggest purchaser of Yamaha outboards in the world, Bennington produces “luxury performance boats”, which – along with robust construction and engineering innovation – sets it apart from most producers of this style of popular watercraft.
Make no mistake, in North America pontoon boats are everywhere. There’s hardly a lakeside cabin or holiday home without at least one secured to its jetty or marina berth, and they are a common sight on saltwater too. Bennington owns a large chunk of the market, especially at the luxury end, having sold more pontoon boats than any other manufacturer in three of the last four years.
Now, for the first time, Bennington boats are available in New Zealand through Trev Terry Marine, which services the Taupo and Rotorua lakes region, as well as through Wanaka Marine in the South Island.
Bennington Boats is owned by US company Polaris Corporation, which in New Zealand and Australia also markets Polaris ATVs and snowmobiles, as well as Indian motorcycles. In New Zealand Bennington hopes to leverage off the success of the brand in Australia, where Bennington pontoon boats are selling strongly, says Craig Tillson, Retail Development Manager for Polaris New Zealand.
In early April Tillson and the team at Trev Terry Marine organised a demonstration day on Lake Taupo to showcase two Bennington models: an entry-level S-Series model and a larger, high-end luxury Q-Series model. Boating New Zealand was there.
Though they are still a rarity in New Zealand, I’ve spent some time aboard a variety of pontoon boats over the years enjoying the hospitality of American friends and on magazine assignments in the USA. I understand their appeal: comfortable, incredibly stable and relatively easy to handle, they provide versatile, spacious platforms from which to enjoy relaxed family boating activities and socialising with friends.
The boats Bennington made available represent opposite ends of the range: the 21 SXSR is from Bennington’s ‘value’ Premium S range, albeit the most premium model of three in that range, while the 25 QSB (‘Swingback’ with two folding biminis) is part of Bennington’s ‘Flagship’ range. While the SXSR is rather more basic than the Q Series, it still offers plenty of luxury features, comfort and performance.
Both boats ride on three pontoons – some Bennington models are also available with only two pontoons, making them slightly cheaper, but at the expense of performance and ride. Both boats were equipped with single outboards, but twin outboard configurations are also offered.
The 21 SXSR ‘tri-toon’ hull has three full-length cylindrical pontoons with storage in the centre hull. The SXSR’s pontoons are strengthened by heavy-duty I-beam cross-channels in the bows and feature spray deflectors forward and lifting strakes/chines further aft.
The QSB comes with Bennington’s Elliptical Sport System (ESP), with a larger diameter elliptical centre pontoon (also with storage) for improved performance and a carrying capacity of up to 15 people. Tube thickness can also be upgraded. Like the SX, the pontoons have spray deflectors and lifting strakes/chines.
Step aboard either of these vessels and you are struck by their sheer volume. There’s seating for as many people as you like – even the smaller SX is rated for up to 11 adults. There’s room to spare, storage galore and lots of clever features, like adjustable seat backs, generous ski lockers, bimini tops (optional electric on the SXSR), drink holders, docking lights and the sorts of entertainment options that American boat builders do so well. Both boats get Rockford PMX-2 sound systems (the QSB with transom speakers and Bluetooth controls), Simrad electronics, integrated ski/tow bar or solid drop-in ski-pole and LED mood lighting.
Quick-drying Simtex vinyl upholstery is used for both vessels. It looks smart, but the luxury level steps up considerably aboard the QSB, with stitched diamond cushion tops and perforated espresso accents. The QSB also gets a pop-up canvas enclosure under the rear lounger that provides a private space for changing or a portable toilet.
The QSB is a step up in styling, too, with fibreglass nose cones (more storage) and fibreglass rather than painted aluminium sides. The moulded fibreglass interiors of both boats are modular, allowing different layout options from the factory and the options list is extensive.
On the water
So how do the Benningtons perform?
Very nicely, thank you. The 6.7m 21 SXSR was equipped with a 150hp Yamaha outboard with power-assisted steering. Top speed is a respectable 66kph (35 knots) and performance feels lively. The boat climbs onto the plane without any real feeling of transition and steers and tracks nicely. I was surprised how well the boat handles sharp turns at speed, and also how easy it is to manouevre at low speed.
Passengers and helm are exposed to the winds of passage, but the boat seems to be a dry runner – we had flat conditions on the lake, but a few days prior Craig had used both vessels in quite choppy conditions and reports they handled it well, and he stayed dry. Although most owners wouldn’t consider taking these boats offshore, they are perfectly at home on lakes big and small, harbours, estuaries, waterway developments – even the more sheltered waters of the Hauraki Gulf, says Tillson. In the USA Bennington pontoon boats are routinely used on saltwater and the factory offers ‘saltwater’ models – the SXSR we trialled is one such model. All Bennington boats have a 10-year structural warranty.
The 25 QSB looks and feels the larger vessel of the two. Equipped with a Yamaha VF 250hp with power-assisted steering (but rated to 450hp!), it’s good for around 40 knots in this guise. This package feels a bit more refined than its smaller sibling, smooth and quiet with surprisingly nimble handling. It’s rather fun to drive.
Lavishly appointed with a clever layout, the QSB offers so many options for a day on the water, whether parking up in a quiet bay for a swim and a bit of sun worshipping, rafting up with friends, towing water toys, fishing, or enjoying a few drinks on a twilight cruise (appoint a sober driver first!).
Did I mention the luxury? Outstanding, with coolers/refrigeration options galore, heaps of storage, privacy enclosure, twin tables and seats and loungers that are better than those I have at home. The sound system’s awesome, too.
In contrast, the SXSR is somewhat less luxuriously appointed, though still extremely comfortable with a comprehensive list of standard features and plenty of optional extras available. It’s the more affordable of the two models here, too, and smaller, which may make it less intimidating for first timers, though as mentioned these boats are easy to manage – they just seem large with all that deck space, seating and entertaining space.
Both boats can be trailered, though the larger QSB with its 2.59m beam requires trailer flags/panels (Bennington also produces 2.44m narrow beam versions). Towing weights are 2.9 tonnes for the 25 QSB and 2.4 tonnes for SXSR.
Lead time from the factory for New Zealand customers is just a few months, says Brock Terry from Trev Terry Marine, and the boats arrive fully rigged and ready to enjoy.
Specifications
21 SXR
capacity 11 people
maximum hp 150hp
engine Yamaha F150
pontoon gauge .080/.100
loa 6.71m (22 feet)
speed 35.6 knots
seating/floor plan Quad seating
sound system Rockford Fosgate PMX-2, Kicker head unit and speaker
RGB lighting Toe-kick, exterior side, underwater, speakers
other features Centre tube storage, Ski tow bar, Sport Performance System (SPS), Simtex vinyl
packages from POA
25 QSB
capacity 15 people
maximum hp 450hp
engine Yamaha VF250
loa 8.5m (28 feet)
speed 39.1 knots
display Simrad Go9
seating/floor plan Five-position Swingback
bimini Double bimini 4.6m
sound system Rockford Fosgate PMX-2, transom speakers
RGB lighting Toe-kick, exterior side, underwater, mesh logo, speakers, cup holders
other features Centre tube storage, Ski pylon, Eliptical Sport Performance System (ESP), Simtex vinyl
packages from POA
