Bennington 2375 GCW

August 2013 Boat Test Monday

What You Need To Know

For some it would seem like an impossible task to try and improve the popular 2275 GCW, but Bennington was up for the challenge. New for 2013, the 2375 GCW with arch is the enhanced version and you gain a lot more than just an extra foot. 

 

The Highlights

As minimal as it may appear, the 23-foot version actually gains a second bow chaise lounge with the extra space, giving the boat a total of two. Of course in the stern, the two rear-facing loungers will continue to be two of the most popular seats onboard. One thing we noticed about the soft-touch vinyl is the different colors as well as textures used to help complete the high-end look. A lot of the vinyl colors like this Sand Stone interior, is a custom color that was created to perfectly match the rest of the boat.


The majority of the pontoon is carpeted, but just before you get to the rear gate there is a nice teak-looking composite deck that we really like. The swim deck is complete with a very heavy-duty ski pylon, as well as a three-step boarding ladder with excellent handholds.

As attractive as this rear deck is, it could be overshadowed by the massive wakeboard tower/arch that is complete with a bimini. With the solid design, it's more than just a decorative item, it's heavy-duty and built to be used and will get plenty of good use with the Yamaha power plant on the back.


Bennington
refers to the second helm chair for the first-mate across from the helm as king and queen seating. It does seem to be a popular trend and we agree the captain shouldn't be the only one with the comfy seat. The setup for the driver includes an elevated helm stand as well as one of the most attractive-looking consoles on the market today.   


A quick note on the exterior: the aluminum rails when combined with the two-tone smoky granite color with midnight black accent, are beautiful. If you think it looks great in a showroom, you should see it out on the water. We also like how the docking lights have been integrated into the stainless corner castings, plus the stainless rubrail is a nice added touch too. 

 

Inspection Notes

Not only does the large elliptical-shaped center pontoon offer better performance, it also allows for a larger (50-gallon) fuel tank to be built inside. The two outside pontoons are 25 inches in diameter and the center elliptical pontoon is 32 inches wide, but still only 25 inches tall for easier trailing options. The outside logs are chambered and each has an inside performance foil to grab in a turn, while the elliptical center tube has a pair of lifting strakes. With the elliptical tube you get better displacement so you get more performance, using less horsepower.

After a close inspection, this `toon earned high marks for its quality, craftsmanship, as well as for its overall fit and finish work. It's truly a well-constructed boat that has a nice family-friendly design to it.

 

Performance Evaluation

Complete with the Elliptical Sport Package, turning on a dime is not a problem. She handles like a dream with the Yamaha 250hp outboard and our zero to 20 mile per hour time was less than 5 seconds. Now that's fast! It truly is amazing how well she dives into the sharp corners like a v-hull boat. This is a fun boat to drive, to say the least.  

 

Final Thoughts

This Bennington is a great all-around boat that really is an ideal fit for most families. You don't need to be power hungry to appreciate its performance, but of course it doesn't hurt either.

  

Number of Occupants             15                   

Price As Tested With Power     $62K

Maximum Speed                      44.8 mph                     

Wild Ponies                              250hp 

No. of Gates                            3

0-20 MPH                               4.9 seconds     

Ladder Measurement               19' 9" deep

 

Why we love this boat.Extra-mile effort can be found at every turn. Nothing is an afterthought on this Bennington and the more we looked the more we liked. This 23-footer is packed with great features.

 

Just being picky.The throttle is mounted a little high, which is great when you're standing but it takes some getting used to when sitting. Once you get a feel for the placement though, it becomes a non-issue. 

 

NOTABLE STANDARDS

2 Stern Facing Super Lounges w/Enhanced headrests & Grab handles, 25 gallon fuel tank, Duraframe Seat Bases, Fire Extinguisher, G Series Reclining Captain's Chairs, High performance Carpet, Illuminated Kicker Speakers, Privacy Enclosure, Soft-touch Base Vinyl, Stainless Rimmed Cupholders, 25" Pontoons, Crystal Cap Logos, Extended Aft Deck w/ Telescoping Ladder, Xtreme Arch w/ Bimini Top (Forward & Aft), LED Lighting and Ski Tow, 12 Volt Receptacle, Custom Sterling Gauge Package, Full instrumentation, Helm Courtesy Lights, Custom Wheel w/ Etched center cap, Sony GT Series CD/MP3, Tilt Steering.

 

OPTIONS ON TEST BOAT

Elliptical Sport Package (ESP), Dual battery with switch, Center Tube Fuel Tank, Carpet Platinum Matrix, Black Accent Teak Aft Flooring, Elevated Helm, Garmin Color GPS, GPS Speedometer w/Compass Heading, Sony M6 Stereo w/USB Port, Dock Lights in LED Stainless Housings, Ski Pylon, SS Rub Rail

 

VITAL STATS

LOA                  25' 1"             

Beam                 8' 6"

Hull Design         Aluminum Pontoons

Dry Weight        2,816 lbs.

Fuel Capacity     50.1 gallons

 

TEST DRIVE

Engine                                                              Yamaha F250XA        

Cylinder Type                                                   V6

Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower               204.6ci/250hp

Lower Unit Gear Ratio                                     2.00:1

Propeller                                                          Saltwater SDS 17 X 15 1/2

 

RPM     vs.      SPEED     vs.    DB-A

700                  1.8                     69.5

1000                3.3                     72.5

1500                5.4                     81

2000                7.2                     83.5

2500                10.6                   81.5

3000                14.4                   86.5

3500                19.4                   88

4000                24.2                   92

4500                28.2                   94

5000                33.7                   96.5

5500                37.3                   98

6000                42.3                   99

6600                44.8                   101.5

Elkhart, Ind.

888-906-2628

benningtonmarine.com

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