Don’t get hung up on the long, alphanumeric model designation. What the Bennington 30 QSRWAX2 10 Wide lacks in catchy nomenclature it makes up for in smart, sophisticated features. Just think of it as a totally loaded Lexus RX 450h F Sport SUV. (See what I did there?)
Actually, if you know how to break the code, the name communicates a lot about this craft. The letter Q, for example, places this model in the refined and luxurious Q Series. The SR stands for stern radius, the WA for windshield arch. X2 denotes twin outboards. Thirty is the foot-length of the pontoons; 10 Wide the beam.Â
Bennington 30 QSRWAX2 10 Wide comes equipped with twin outboard engines.
In a nutshell, this is a confident, comfortable boat built for entertaining and offering reliable handling in big water. Plus, it boasts great slow-speed maneuverability around structures (and other boats) thanks to the available joystick docking.
The triple tubes in what Bennington calls its Elliptical Sport Package (ESP) include keels, lifting strakes and performance foils. In between the tubes, you’ll find wave shields. In addition, thicker and more substantial materials and hardware in the deck construction minimize flex. All of this adds up to a solid, quiet and smooth ride.Â
Loads of storage throughout the boat includes a massive belowdeck compartment on centerline and space under the forward lounges. These seats, incidentally, are thoughtfully engineered for ergonomic support and include a diamond-stitched pattern and fold-down armrests with cup holders. Two portable cup holders can be moved around the boat and placed wherever you want them. A bow gate leads to a large swim deck covered with the same woven seagrass flooring as the rest of the boat.
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Both the helm and navigator consoles are protected by low-profile, smoked windshields. The former features dual throttle controls, a leather-wrapped wheel, accented dash with custom instruments, illuminated rocker switches, a footrest and fully adjustable, reclining captain’s chair. An identical chair serves the navigator console, which also includes a small freshwater sink and countertop area, woodgrain accents and a large storage hold on the inside.
Abaft the consoles, two stern lounges have plush backrests that face aft, making them the perfect place from which to spot skiers or tubers being pulled by the fiberglass sport arch. Or, plug in the removable cockpit table here and have an alfresco meal on the water. A stern gate provides access to the stern swim platform with boarding ladder.Â
One notable feature here: The starboard side lounge backrest pivots up to reveal a canvas privacy enclosure for when you need to change into or out of your swimsuit, then just as easily pivots down again. This space can also be equipped with a pump-out Porta-Potti. With a passenger capacity of 21 adults, someone will surely want to use the facilities.
Bennington builds its boats with considerable attention to detail — even in those areas that you can’t readily see. Welds of rails and pipes join all four sides rather than the more common practice of welding just two. Each weld is then ground smooth and anodized after for optimal durability. Corner pieces are polished stainless steel rather than aluminum.
Styling gets high points, too, with precious few straight lines or sharp corners. Rather, this boat provides a study in shapely contours and radius curves. Bennington also did a stunning job of mood lighting. The arch has dimmable LEDs, as do the stereo speakers and cup holders. Even the most old-school pontoon aficionado will enjoy the lifestyle this Bennington can provide.
In case you’re not a fan of this particular layout, the Bennington 30 Q can be ordered in a number of configurations, including Swingback, which replaces the aft lounges with a reclining sun pad. Of course, on a boat as customizable as this, you would expect a range of options, and the 30 Q delivers: freshwater washdown, Sharkhide tube protectant, rod holders, ottoman with cooler, Simrad GPS, underwater lights. The list goes on.
Saying that Bennington is expanding the boundaries of its boats’ capabilities is beginning to sound like a broken record. But I’m going to say it again, because the 30 QSRWAX2 10 Wide is another model that proves pontoons have reached a new level of comfort, convenience and luxury.
