2016 Bennington 28 RSRX1

Twenty-five people. That is the rated capacity of this 2016 Bennington 28 RSRX1, stock #5059, and it is the number that tells you what this boat is for. At 30 feet 6 inches overall on a full 10-foot beam, powered by a Mercury 350 Verado, it is built to move a crowd comfortably.

The RSRX1 floorplan gives you four full chaise lounges rather than a mix of benches and jump seats, which keeps the deck open and social. Everyone gets a real place to sit, and the layout means conversation works across the boat instead of splitting into two groups. Bennington finished the R Series with detailed-stitch upholstery, high-back captain and co-captain chairs, premium woven vinyl flooring, USB charging, and large under-seat lockers.

The 10-foot beam is the specification that matters most here. Wide-beam Benningtons carry their width all the way forward and aft, so the boat has enormous deck area for its length and, more importantly, resists heeling when a dozen people move to one side to watch a skier. Combined with the performance tritoon package and its lifted center tube, the 28 RSRX1 stays planted and turns predictably rather than washing out.

The Mercury 350 Verado is a well-regarded supercharged four-stroke, smooth and quiet at cruise with strong midrange for pulling tubes, and at 4,680 lbs the boat is not asking too much of it. Hydraulic steering keeps the helm light, and the 83-gallon tank means a genuinely long day without a fuel stop. The helm has digital instrumentation with GPS, sonar, and depthsounder capability and a Bluetooth stereo. Aft is an extended swim platform with a boarding ladder and a stainless ski tow bar, with a bimini overhead for shade.

Why this is the right boat: if you host, this is the boat. Big extended-family Sundays, church groups, kids and their friends, all of it fits without anyone perching on a cooler. A 10-foot-beam 28-footer with a 350 Verado at this price is a lot of usable boat for the money, and it will spend most of its life doing exactly what it was designed for.

Come see it at Kelly's Port in Osage Beach, a family-owned marina on the Lake of the Ozarks since 1977. We service what we sell, with a same-day service guarantee, and we have slips, dry storage, a gas dock, and a ship store on site. Call 573.348.3888 to check on stock #5059.