Unlike the 19th-century English fairy tale, what Bennington Marine is doing is real and a progressive step in helping customers find the porridge–ahem–the pontoon boat that is just right for them. Placed in the middle of the Indiana-based manufacturer’s lineup, the M Series falls between its entry S and L Series models and its R and high-end Q Series. To borrow a line from Goldilocks, many consumers are finding the M class to be “just right” for their needs.

Starting at $67,620 and available in Sport and Luxe trims, the M Series, which debuted in 2025, offers luxury features and an intuitive interface, with a modern design.

Last summer, the PDB staff put the M24 Swingback through its paces and were pleased with the complete package, which included a Yamaha 250hp four-stroke and key upgrades.

Vivid UX

The M Series pontoon comes standard with a 7-inch UX main display. However, ours had been upgraded to a 12-inch Vivid UX display with a Vessel Control touch pad below. The Vivid UX digital dash is something Bennington is really excited to be offering, and it’s easy to see why.

The new mapping feature on the Vivid UX system lets you view all your gauges and location on one screen. The digital dash and integrated GPS provide an intuitive, easy-to-navigate display. The upgraded 12-inch version switches automatically from “running” to “float” mode when the boat stops. In running mode, you see one set of gauges. Once the boat stops, the dash switches to float mode with gauges for when at rest, such as water temperature and easier stereo access.

The 7-inch Vessel Control touchscreen allows the captain to control everything from the lights and stereo to the power Bimini top with one touch. Speaking of stereos, the Rockford Fosgate audio system with a 10-inch subwoofer and amp kept our summer rocking as we blasted our favorite tunes. The glass windscreen, elevated helm platform, and a comfortable captain’s chair round out the highlights of the ergonomic helm.

Gas Saver

One of the most popular included options on our boat, especially for our more adventurous passengers, was the LilliPad Marine diving board. We called it the “gas saver” because we often anchored in a cove while both kids and adults took turns jumping off for hours at at time. The diving board bolts to the deck with LilliPad’s Ghost Mounts and removes easily by removing the three eye bolts. The M Series pontoon also comes standard with a REVO boarding ladder from LilliPad Marine. The wide steps and gentle angle make it simple to get back on board from the water.

Keeper Rail

In the stern around the multi-function swingback lounger, we enjoyed having the retractable Keeper Rail. Bennington earned an NMMA Innovation Award in 2025 for solving a debate with this rail design. Before, you had to either sacrifice valuable seating capacity in the aft section for safety reasons while underway or deal with an obstructive railing that limited access and usability of the rear-facing lounge when stationary.

This rail proves that practicality and aesthetics can go hand in hand. The manual feature is user-friendly for adults and children. The high-polish stainless steel rail and linked chain system clicks easily into place for running underway. It can be lowered out of the way via three locking pin sets.

Comfort & Power

The M24 is rated for up to 12 passengers. With premium Vento upholstery and a high-end look, every seat is soft yet extremely durable. There are two chaise lounges in the bow, both with a fold down armrest and we especially love the extra storage thanks to Boat Outfitters, a division of Teak Isle. Built into the back of the port lounger is a tip out trash with a slide out drawer below. This area is usually just wasted, yet Boat Outfitters offers a variety of different ways to maximize the space. At 26 feet, 3 inches long, this vessel flew across the water with the Yamaha 250hp outboard and handled like an absolute dream.

Final Thoughts

Even if you’re already extremely familiar with the Bennington brand, the M class is worthy of a closer look if you’re in the market for a high-end pontoon that comes in at a mid-range price. The manufacturer redid everything from the flooring up, including new flooring, new rails, new colors, new seats, new cushions and design, and, of course, the brand-new helm, which is all touchscreen-controlled, that we can’t stop raving about.

A quick shout-out to Idaho Water Sports, the Bennington dealer with four locations. We worked with them to get the boat to us out west, so we could truly experience all this M24 had to offer. If we ever run into Goldilocks, we’ll be sure to save her some time looking.

For More Information

Bennington Marine
www.benningtonmarine.com

Boat Outfitters
www.boatoutfitters.com

Idaho Water Sports
www.idahowatersports.com

LilliPad Marine
www.lillipadmarine.com

Rockford Fosgate
www.rockfordfosgate.com

Yamaha Marine
www.yamahaoutboards.com