Bennington 22 MSB
Full-Featured elegance
By Andy Adams
If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.
PONTOON EVOLUTION
Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first. We have come a long way in the intervening years. Pontoon boats have been refined in their mission and now serve as large capacity, family entertainment centres, bringing style, speed and utility to their happy owners in cottage country.
BENNINGTON 22 MSB WITH SPORTS PACKAGE
Last September I got together with Ryan Daleman. He works with Nick Spencer at the Dockside Group LTD, Canadian sales representatives for the Bennington line, and Ryan brought out his own company demo for us to review. This Bennington 22 MSB already had a full season of regular use, but it looked brand-new and was very attractive with no signs of wear.
This particular boat had the sexy all black trim package that includes blacked out logos, black exterior trim and even black upholstery. Light grey piping and accents with a light grey carpet completed the luxurious look.
You might think that black vinyl upholstery on a sunny day is not a great idea, but surprise! This has a cool touch vinyl called Veneto Premium Soft Touch Vinyl. We won’t get into the science of this, but when you sit down, the black upholstery doesn’t feel too warm, and cools right off with you sitting on it, even with bare skin, hence the nickname, “cool touch”.
BOARDING
Typically, there are three ways to board a pontoon boat, and our Bennington test boat was no exception. There’s room to step on at the bow through an opening centre gate, and lots of room to board at the stern. But the most popular way to board from a dock is through the port side opening gate.
Many families want to bring their dogs along, and the side gate is the ideal way to safely bring pets onboard. It’s also great for people who may need something to steady themselves. Even better, the swim ladder at the stern is a Lillipad model with wide steps. This extends out at an angle like stairs at home. Dogs can’t climb a tube ladder, but the LilliPad is a design they can climb, and the whole family will find it very comfortable to use.
The Bennington 22 MSB really stands out thanks to its stylish trim, plush interior and raised helm position with glass windshield.
The test boat had the stainless-steel tow bar over the engine for tow sports, and this also provides a sturdy handhold when standing on the back deck.
SWINGBACK DESIGN
Bennington 22 MSB stands for M-series Swingback. This features a large aft seating area on the port side, and here the test boat featured Bennington’s Retractable Keeper Rail that can be raised when running or lowered for comfort when stopped. The Swingback refers to the back rest, which can be positioned for passengers to face forward or can swing back for facing aft when swimming, towing boarders, or tanning.
The base also housed big speakers, had storage for larger items and, of course, lots of drink holders. The test boat featured the optional lighted drink holders as well as foot lights and exterior lighting. The Bennington 22 MSB would be really cool for cruising after dark!
Convertible seat back sections in the base can also be raised, so two people can face aft while two more face forward, creating two social areas. We also liked that the design leaves a generous open floor space behind the helm seat, so several people can stand or move around easily when moored.
SEPARATE SOCIAL AREAS
For those who like riding at the bow, the Bennington 22 MSB has reclining room and armrests for tanning. For extra seating and a great social layout, our Bennington 22 MSB had a movable seat section in the bow where the front gate is. You can relocate it as extra seating or leave it in place completing a U-shaped conversation area in the bow.
Armrests, USB connectors, lighted floors and lighted drink holders make this a very comfortable area. A removable picnic table with more drink holders is also included. PFDs and other bulky items are easily stowed under the seat bases, which are securely hinged out to drop slightly and stay open. The bases are waterproof plastic, drained and vented.
ELEVATED HELM
Our test boat was loaded with great features, and the helm area was a special focus. There are twin swivelling adjustable pedestal bucket seats at the helm and companion positions, with drink holders, storage for personal items and plush upholstery. And that’s just the start.
As you board from the port side gate, there is a handy storage cubby for purses and other valuables. Above this is their Chase Changing Room for privacy on board. Opposite in the helm console is a large storage locker for a cooler or duffle bags. In the centre tube is a spacious underfloor ski locker.
Raised a few inches, the driver easily sees over passengers seated in the bow, and the helm console is grand. The helm seat has a wide range of adjustments and folding armrests. There is tilt steering, and the Yamaha controls were positioned where it’s easy to make fine adjustments to speed and engine trim.
But the best feature is the Vivid UX main display with Vessel Control Touch Pad. While a 7-inch screen is standard, our test boat had the optional 12-inch screen. The bright colour display was easy to see in daylight and easy to use too.
A second touch screen by the driver’s left hand controls the extensive lighting system that includes RGB lighting in the kick panels and headlights in the bow for docking. It also controls the premium Rockford Fosgate audio system with six speakers.
The premium features don’t stop there. The Bennington 22 MSB features sleek lines accented by a black electrically adjustable Bimini roof arch that can shade the helm and the Swingback seats. The driver gets a nice glass windshield too. Bennington seems to have thought of everything you could want!
PERFORMANCE
So, how does this all go? The test boat featured a 175-horsepower Yamaha V Max with power tilt and trim. It idles in near silence for super comfortable cruising and trolling. Then, the Yamaha has the power to plane off a big load of passengers, take skiers and boarders for an exciting run, or just get everyone home swiftly when the day is done. From a standing start, we timed 7.76 seconds to 30mph. With two onboard, we topped out at 41mph—an exciting and practical top speed that means the 22 MSB can handle a wide range of tow sports. (Although not wake surfing due to the outboard propulsion. You need an inboard or forward-facing drive boat for safe wake surfing to prevent the rider from falling forward into the prop.)
The Bennington also featured power hydraulic assist steering, which made the boat responsive and easy to control, even at high speeds. Trimmed up, the Bennington rides high and fast and can bank into a turn like a vee-bottom runabout. At all times, the boat felt strong, stiff and secure. It was also impressively quiet. Bennington supports this strong performance with quality: they offer a lifetime warranty on the structure of the boat and a 10-Year Bow to Stern warranty.
IN SUMMARY
Bennington set out to make their boats luxurious and top-of-the-line with all the latest features. We feel that they succeeded in the mission. Especially for cottage country, the Bennington 22 MSB merits serious consideration.
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE AS TESTED: Yamaha V Max SHO, 175hp, In-Line 4-Cylinder, EFI (DOHC) with variable camshaft timing (VCT), Multi-point electronic fuel injection.
RPM – MPH
1,000 – 4
1,500 – 6
2,000 – 8
2,500 – 10
3,000 – 15
3,500 – 19
4,000 – 24
4,500 – 28
5,000 – 32.5
5,500 – 37.5
6,000 – 41
LENGTH: 24’3” / 7.32m
BEAM: 8’6” / 2.44m
PONTOON DIAMETER: 25” / 0.609m
PASSENGER CAPACITY: 12 persons
WEIGHT: 3,017lbs / 1,368kg
POWER: 200hp max
PRICE: $71,000 USD Base Price and $110,000 USD MSRP as optioned for 2026
BOAT AND PRICE SUPPLIED BY: Dockside Group and Bennington Marine, a division of Polaris Industries. www.benningtonmarine.com
