18' Cargo in red bought about 25 years ago and had a lot of experience with canoes before buying this one for hauling a lot of gear on trips. Great canoe. Stable with wide beam but glides well for size and low freeboard nice in high winds. Sheds waves well if not out in crazy waves. Always draws comments on how nice it looks in water. Only little issue on long trips when front seat frame piece begins to cut circulation but easily handled with basic life cushion as pad. Fiberglass with gel coat so have had to be careful to not destroy original finish. Still proud of it when out with others...

Customer Service

Never needed, no problems

Similar Products Used:

Grumman aluminum, wood/canvas, Coleman

I've been using one of these Hoegens for close to ten years now. They are the Cadillac of canoes. I have yet use a canoe that rides smoother or is more stable. The only problem might be manueverability in tight areas but that is a problem with all 17' canoes. People claim you have to have a keel on canoes or they're tippy, this canoe shuts their mouths. Hoefgens are pricy, and hard to find used but their an heirloom canoe so the money is a lifetime investment. People who buy them don't normally sell them. I found mine because the woman had won a 15' boat in a fishing tournament and wasn't using the canoe anymore and didn't have room to keep storing it. $400 was a steal and the best money I ever spent.

The Hoefgen canoes are a unique time tested design. I have had mine for over 26 years and I love it.

It does not have a traditional keel instead using the bow and stern shape as a the keel function. The canoe tracks nicely in stillwater and is efficient in whitewater.

The low profile design is particularly nice in windy conditions as the canoe does not get blown around like other canoes.

This is an efficient, well built, and asthetically beautiful canoe.

The owners Sandy and Paul Hoefgen are now semi-retired, so these canoes may be difficult to get and perhaps even collectible in the future.

Customer Service

Repair work is available on Hoefgen canoes at the factory