BENNINGTON
L25 QUAD BENCH TOP DECK
Anchored in your favorite party cove or nosed into the nearest sandbar, Bennington’s L25 Quad Bench Top Deck isn’t just another pontoon boat—it’s your own personal water park. Thanks to the water-fed slide that allows passengers to plunge off the platform on the boat’s second-story top deck. It’s big fun, as is soaking in the rays on the pebbled 10-foot-by-6-foot-4-inch starboard platform that offers a bird’s-eye view from nearly 6.5 feet above the main deck. That platform can handle up to four occupants (or 585 pounds), meaning it’s also a great spot to simply hang out and soak up some sun. Bennington surrounds that upper deck with a low-profile rail, maintaining a sleek appearance while adding a touch of security for those topside. A moatlike channel is grooved into the surface to keep water from collecting and dripping onto the passengers and furniture below. The deck structure itself is constructed from 2.375-inch tubing and powder-coated with a matte finish for not only attractive looks but also a touch of grip.
Below the topside amusement park, the L25 rides atop Bennington’s SPS+ Performance Package, a trio of 25-inch round tubes with 0.1-inch-thick walls and performance-minded lifting strakes. A sealed transom is used to accommodate the extra weight of the platform. With a modest Mercury 250 outboard on the transom, our test boat reached 41.6 mph and consumed 8.5 gph at a 24 mph cruising speed. It also showed off nimble handling that belied its added weight and higher center of gravity.
Our test boat featured Bennington’s Quad Bench floor plan, the company’s bestselling configuration. A pair of benches forward stretch out 6 feet to starboard and 5 feet, 4 inches to port, while the matching pair aft measure in at 4 feet. Add an optional gate-filler seat to turn either lounge setup into a wraparound, U-shaped bench. The choice of Simtex vinyl adds a cool, soft touch. Ample stowage is offered below all four benches, with drains to keep water at bay, as well as flow-through ventilation.
With a blazing-hot red and black color scheme and an imposing pair of Mercury 450 Racing outboards at the transom, it was clear from the start that Manitou’s 27 XT SRW came to perform. And perform it did, consistently galloping to a top speed of over 77 mph.
While those numbers came as no surprise from this kind of horsepower, how confident the captain and passengers felt at those speeds did. Manitou’s patented V-Toon Technology provided an ultra-stable, ultra-responsive platform, proving comfortable and predictable at speed, and displaying nimble, agile handling when driven into a high-speed corner. Consisting of a pair of 25-inch outer pontoons, which are flanked by a larger 27-inch pontoon dropped a full 5¼ inches lower in the water, and a full complement of lifting strakes, it got the XT running atop the water in short order and allowed it to intuitively carve into corners with the familiar inside lean of a V-hull.
At speeds flirting with the 80 mph mark, the XT’s raised helm station and tempered-glass console windshield were welcome additions, both for their improved visibility and wind protection. That raised platform also stands out when docking, allowing the captain a clear view over forward-seated passengers while manipulating the optional Mercury joystick control. With video-game ease, it translates intuitive motion on the joystick into corresponding movement of the boat to take much of the stress out of closequarters maneuvering.
While performance is a priority, Manitou didn’t forget passenger-friendly comfort.
A pair of 7-foot couches forward pack in friends and family or allow individual passengers to stretch out in comfort. With the SRW package, which includes the windshield, the co-captain enjoys the view from a similarly raised platform to the helm. Aft, twin 5-foot couches with powered backrests are ready for passengers to soak up the rays or take in watersports action in the boat’s wake. Pivot the center cushions out and back, and add a removable table, and either couch instantly becomes a mini dinette.