2023 Bennington 25 QFBA
At 28 feet long with 425 horses of Yamaha V-8 power, Bennington’s 25 QFBA proves a head-turner. This furiously accelerating beast (zero to 30 mph in just 5.1 seconds) roared to a top speed of 53.5 mph. At full gallop, it burns 38 gph. At 20 mph, it nets 3.2 mpg while burning 6.2 gph. It runs on the -Elliptical Sport Package (ESP), which features 25-inch-round outer tubes and a 32-inch elliptical center tube with lifting strakes. Its 28-foot length spans chop and wakes, while the 8-foot-6-inch beam allows it to arc through turns.
A full-on cruiser and party barge, the 25 QFBA is rated for a crew of 15. In front, the smooth, sweptback Rossa Red perimeter fiberglass with Metallic White accents delights the eyes. Stainless-steel docking and navigation light housings further enhance style. We noted the handy stainless-steel pop-up cleats at the fore and aft corners of the deck. The Sport interior features Simtex vinyl in Arctic Ice White with Rossa Red perforated and diamond-stitched accent panels.
The entire bow forward of the helm is one huge wraparound lounger. USB ports, beverage holders and speakers for the Rockford Fosgate audio system are tucked into recessed pockets. Keys, wallets and phones also stow securely in these recesses. In-floor storage handles vests, covers and watersports toys.
The sleek, sweptback captain’s console sits 41/2 inches off the deck for enhanced visibility and features a frameless tinted glass windscreen, recessed legroom and a Commander 7-inch data screen. (Upgrade to a 9- or 11-inch Garmin or Simrad MFD). A custom tilt steering wheel harnesses power hydraulic steering, and the boat also features a killer Rockford M2 sound system with a subwoofer, eight speakers and 1,050 watts of total output. Twin reclining, swiveling and sliding captain’s chairs serve the captain and first mate.
Astern, twin facing, curved lounges make up the aft conversation pit. Farther back, the aft deck features beefy mounting for the 900-plus-pound Yamaha V-8 outboard, with an extended platform for swimming and sunning. This Bennington proves worth the price of admission.
High Points
- Yamaha 425 XTO Offshore engine makes this flagship a performance leader.
- Lily-pad swim ladder makes it much easier to climb aboard after a swim.
- Optional power-folding arch creates a sleek, futuristic structure.
How We Tested
- Engine: Yamaha four-stroke 425 hp XTO Offshore
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Yamaha XTO Offshore 16 5/8” x 19″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 1.79:1 Fuel Load: 38 gal. Crew Weight: 250 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $235,799 (as tested) |
| LOA: | 28’0″ |
| Beam: | 8’6″ |
| Draft: | 16″/33″ |
| Dry Weight: | 4,243 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 15/4,650 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 50 gal. |
Bennington Marine – Elkhart, Indiana; 574-264-6336; benningtonmarine.com
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