2022 Bennington 30QFBX2

Sleek and Stylish.

Boat Test #1756
By: Walt Jennings

Founded in the mid 1990’s by a group of boating industry veterans, Bennington pontoon boats are known throughout the boating industry for their quality of construction and attention to detail. From their entry level S Series to the flagship QX models, every Bennington is built by skilled craftsmen and women using the highest quality materials, who in their Elkhart, Indiana plant, manufacture a myriad of pontoon and tritoon boats from 16 to 30 ft, and from 8 ft 6 in to 10 ft wide.

Bennington’s entry level pontoons in their S Series can be purchased at a very reasonable price of $29,500, and prices run all the way up to a starting price of $273,000 on their luxurious 30 ft QFBX2 twin engine in this review. Options can easily add another $50,000 – 60,000 to the price of this 30-footer, and Bennington has other models in their Q line of tritoons with more options and different seating configurations to suit different owners. Standard horsepower on the 30 QX series is twin 300 hp Yamaha outboards, but I think I would want at least twin 400 Mercs or twin 425 Yamahas to push this beast of a tritoon.

One of the keys to the smooth ride and great handling characteristics common to all of Bennington’s 30 QX series of tritoons is the elliptical shape of their three 32-inch diameter tubes which are designed to better handle choppy water as well as high-horsepower engines than round pontoons.

Along with these 30 footers great choppy water handling characteristics, all of the seating has higher bolsters under your knees for a more stable sitting experience, as Benningtons seating is some of the most comfortable in the industry. They use Simtex* vinyl, which is much more comfortable than ordinary vinyl and their wrap around seating at the bow and stern are great places for families to gather while talking.

The twin helm seats are big enough for two and recline in case you want to stop for a nap, and the rounded bow gives this tritoon an attractive profile while the fiberglass consoles and seat frames give it a sleek look on the inside. Sitting in the helm seat, the console has illuminated rocker switches with integral breakers for easy resetting if that becomes necessary. Storage abounds on this 30-footer with several in-deck holds as well as storage under virtually each and every seating area.

There is a huge swim platform at the tritoons stern, accessed through a gate between the aft seats and a heavy-duty boarding ladder that will hold even the most stout swimmer, and there is a forward boarding gate between the bow lounges.

While the price listed in our specifications is with virtually no options, options abound on this monster of a tritoon. Options such as numerous snazzy exterior colors (+/- $1.000-4,500, Bimini top ($2,500-3,800), various table configurations (+/- $1,500), various lighting upgrades ($1,000), various stereo upgrades (up to $5,000), flooring upgrade ($1,400), 54” ski pylon ($2,700), and various outboard engine options.

All Bennington boats have an industry leading lifetime structural and decking warranty along with a 10-year bow-to-stern warranty on other factory-built items.

Specifications

LOA: 31 ft 3 in
Beam: 10 ft
Hull Weight: 5,423 lbs
Log Length: 30 ft
Tube Diameter: 32 in
Draft: 14 in
Fuel Capacity: 83 gal
Max Horsepower: 900
Max Persons: 17

MSRP: $272,588 CAD

For more information: www.benningtonmarine.com