BENNINGTON 22SVSR
Value is the mission of the Bennington SV line, with boats that start at $17,110. New for 2021 is this 22-foot-11-inch 22SVSR. Nicely equipped for well under $40,000, this triple-tube boat is assembled with many of the same premium materials and features found across the Bennington line, including cool-touch Simtex vinyl upholstery, quarter-inch-thick cross members, and through-bolted deck fasteners. Rotomolded plastic seat bases are drained and vented to fight mildew, and they feature channels that allow water to easily drain off the deck. Bennington makes the SV purchase process simple by including the features most buyers want as standard equipment, thereby eliminating a mind-boggling long list of options. There are three color choices—red, blue and black—and three interior layouts; our test boat had L-shaped bench seats fore and aft, and Pure Comfort reclining high-back seats at the helm and companion positions. A pair of portable armrests with drink holders is standard. The helm features analog instruments, and there is no multifunction-display option, but you can order a 3.5-inch Garmin Striker 4 fish finder ($239). The 22SVSR is equipped with a Kicker audio system with four speakers. You might want to order the optional ski-tow bar ($565).
Our test boat featured the 25-inch round triple-tube Sport Performance System upgrade ($4,611), which includes lifting strakes on the center pontoon, performance foils inside the outer pontoons, an underdeck wave shield, and SeaStar hydraulic steering. This package bumps max horsepower to 200, but we were satisfied with the performance offered by a Mercury 115 FourStroke, which will cruise along quietly at 20 mph while sipping fuel. You might consider more power if towing a heavy tube is on your boating agenda. Bennington places the fuel tank forward within the center tube for better weight distribution, which enhances handling. The fuel fill is at the transom, so it’s accessible when the dock is port or starboard. Despite its price point, Bennington has not cut corners on its SV line.