Product Reviews > Canoes > Grumman Canoes > G1740C

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06-23-2012
Submitted by: darbpez - Rating: 10 of 10
     I was given a 1958 15' double ender Grumman for free! It was one of the best free things I have even received. It it wonderful to paddle, and no maintenance is wonderful. It rides on the top of my Jeep Wrangler with ease and it is a pleasure to paddle. I have been canoeing all my life and by far this is the best canoe to paddle a lake, river, or stream in..

06-05-2012
Submitted by: J,V. - Rating: 10 of 10
     I have my Grumman canoe model 1740 since 1994. I use a 3 HP Johnson 2 cylinder outboard to help after a long paddling time. I had several canoes in my life and nothing can beat the quality of a Grumman canoe. We use the canoe on the St. Laurence river and it can turn quite rough sometimes but my trusted Grumman never tipped. Since I have a van it is now too dangerous to carry the canoe on the roof so I bought a boat trailer with side beds and use it to carry my Grumman. Also I use a canoe dolly that I bring all the time with us inside the canoe just in case we need it everywhere we are. Nothing can beat a Grumman.

11-10-2011
Submitted by: Howard - Rating: 10 of 10
     I have had my 18' Grumman double ender since my dad bought it in 1956. I was 10 at the time and it is still hanging by my garage today. We have had hours of fun with it camping and fishing. We used to put a 3 h.p. Johnson on the side and that canoe would fly. I had it at college with me in San Antonio, Texas way back when. I have floated the rivers there with sometimes had up to 12 guys and girls and a case of beer in it. It is the Jeep of canoes and every time I look at it I think of my dad. My 33 and 30 year old sons are ready to take it over. It is still in great shape. Thanks Mr. Grumman.

08-31-2011
Submitted by: Guy - Rating: 8 of 10
     Heavy (75 pounds) - Slow (symetric, angle of entry of 17 degrees). When it fell out of a pickup on a gravel road in 1988 it scratched more deeply than I would have liked. When I got it caught on a bridge support in 1995 in class IV water it bent more than I would have liked (though it needs less J stroke today). Ugliest boat in my garage. Does everything poorly, and it's the first boat I grab.

07-26-2010
Submitted by: BarbG - Rating: 10 of 10
     The van of canoes -- not at all sexy, but totally reliable and can carry a plethora of supplies, kids, and dogs. I can park it outside or in the garage, use it just about anywhere in a wide range of conditions. Every few years I wonder if I should get rid of it and buy a few kayaks but I can't justify getting rid of something that performs flawlessly and has a functional lifespan longer than most humans.

05-13-2010
Submitted by: Lupitaboy - Rating: 10 of 10
     After polishing and buffing my 32 year old double ender, my thoughts were of the excellent WWII aircraft Grumman produced and how that excellence went into their postwar production of this canoe. Solid and roomy, stable and indestructible...one great long-term investment in outdoor fun. I solo it backwards with 5 gallons of water ballast under the bow seat and it tracks great. My Old Town 16 weighed 10 lbs less but lacked the stability and tracking that I admire in my Grumman. When fishing Choke Canyon Lake in S.Texas, home to trophy bass, catfish and thousands of hungry alligators, dumping your canoe is to be avoided. You can buy lighter, prettier and more flexible canoes but you cannot buy better.

05-06-2010
Submitted by: cr - Rating: 10 of 10
     I own two Grumman canoes. One found after a hurricane in NC while in school at the bottom of the Tar River. The other a 1960 model. Both stored outside in the sun on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Even the salt water doesn't touch these bullet proof boats. Still running strong and not one problem after 50 years.

10-05-2009
Submitted by: Wet N Alabama - Rating: 10 of 10
     I have a very rare 17 foot double ended Grumman with factory webbed seating (Alum. tube seat frame with lawn chair type webbing attached by a notched pinch clip, not screws). It was a special order of canoes made this way by request "just one time" per the Grumman management). Grumman acknowledges it, but has no records or photos on file. Just stories from the real old timers that have since retired. It is heavy gauge with tons of aircraft rivets. I wouldn't trade it for a high dollar fiberglass canoe or even a new Grumman! The seats make the difference + it could be the last one remaining in existence! Only minor useage markings, no severe or repaired damage exists.

We took it out for Class 3 rapid trip just this week. Nothing beats a Grumman. Legendary much like a Harley Davidson! I prefer the Web Seats for comfort to the rigid aluminum. A local canoe rental guy said, Aluminum doesn't last. I said, find me an antique fiberglass or plastic canoe and then we will talk about durability. Especially if you stored yours in direct sun, outdoors like I have!

03-17-2008
Submitted by: flybenji - Rating: 10 of 10
     I have a 1950 Grumman 15 Foot Like New That I Still Use That Has The Old Aircraft Style Rivets (many More Than The Newer Ones) & Had a 17 Foot Shoe Keel I Bought New With Double Bang Plates. I also have an Old Town Tripper & It Is the best Except The Skin Is Scraped Off & You Can Not Fix That.The Grummans Are Tough As Nails & You Never Have To Worry About Leaving Them Out In The Winter. It would take a lot of money to get my 1950 Grumman As They Were First Made In 1945. Fifty Eight Years Old & Still Like New.

08-10-2007
Submitted by: NJD - Rating: 10 of 10
     My rating for Grumman canoes is off the charts. Can you really call anything else a Canoe if it doesn’t have a Grumman sticker on it?

I was practically born in a Grumman canoe and have been cabrewing, camping, fishing, gunwale pumping, hunting, motoring, paddling, picnicking, poling, portaging, racing, roof racking, sailing, submerging, surfing, swamping, trailering, towing, white watering and wooeing women, in my 1966 red 17’ double ender for the last 41 years. My parents owned and sold Grumman canoes since before I was born (1958). This was our family’s 2nd generation Grumman and it, and its blue painted twin has survived and protected my 3 brothers and all our crazy friends, my 6 children and theirs, as well as Boy Scouts through many, many adventures. It has sailed Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan in 6 to 8 ft swells, and dozens of smaller lakes in the blazing sun, high winds, rain, hail, lighting and even a water spout.

We have paddled more rivers in it than I can remember; the AuSable, Auglaize, Black Fork, Clear Fork, Hocking, Kokosing, Mad River, Maumee, Mohican, Muskingum, Mahoning, Ottawa, Ohio, Scioto, Olentangy, Big and Little Darby, Great Miami, Little Miami, Sturgeon, Indian River, Tuscarawas, Walhonding Rivers to name a few. Maintenance? It don’t need no stinkin maintenance! No patching, painting, or cleaning. I have no doubt that these two canoes will be passed down through the next 2, 3 or 4 generations of my family none the worse for wear.

07-10-2006
Submitted by: MWB - Rating: 10 of 10
     Have used two G1750CSK 1970 Grumman 17 ft whitewater models from Mississippi - Arkansas - Oklahoma - Ontario - Texas - Wyoming, in whitewater, lakes and sloughs. Running rapids, fishing, and dragging them behind 4-wheelers through swamps to use them as ferrys for cruising timber. Pretty? Nope. Stout? Yes. I wonder if these little wisps-o-nothing modern boats will stand coming off of your truck at 70 mph and flatten roadside metal posts, and only have a small dent? Or lay out in the backyard for 36 years, never inside, and still work as well as Day One? Oh, yes, learned to sail with it, too! Grumman cannot be beat, in my book.

04-17-2006
Submitted by: trinitymike - Rating: 10 of 10
     I wish there was an 11 or 12 or 15 out of 10 for this boat: Had my shiny tin-can 'clunker' for going on 30 years, run everything from Class I to IV+ in this thing, canoed and camped to above the tree-line in 4 seasons ( Was actually cutting thin river ice with the bow on the return from one trip)Beat the CRAP out of this thing season after season after season , dragging it through hellish rocky portages and it comes back for more.

Sure, it ain't some fancy Kevlar, ash-gunwaled cherry-trimmed beauty; It's a beast of burden and more beat up looking than Keith Richard's face, but like 'Keef', it keeps going and going......

11-04-2005
Submitted by: rcer - Rating: 10 of 10
     Have had this canoe since spring 1976 -bought it in preparation for a 100 mile trip on the Lehigh and Delaware rivers for the Bicentennial. Have since run those rivers a number of times and the local lakes as well. Sat for a long time until after my father passed away, now it is in my garage for the winter, but will see regular use again come spring. Was great in any of the rapids and on the Lehigh below White Haven never had an ounce of trouble. Still in wonderful condition, no leaks and very few dings. Guess I'm good at keeping it off the rocks!! - Or better yet, the canoe is good at staying off!! Will never get rid of this one!

11-01-2005
Submitted by: - Rating: 10 of 10
     I love the old aluminum Grumman canoes. I learned in a 12 foot fiberglass and I have owned a lot of boats but the ones I love are the ones my scout master had. He was a wonderful scout master. When the local scout council would not give him canoes for a white water trip he went to town and purchased 10 Grumman canoes, 4 river 18 foot boats 4 lake 18 foot boats and 2 monster 20 foot WAR canoes. Every boy in the little town of Reardan WA for the last 30 years or more got to learn on those boats. We ran rivers from central Montana to California and never met anything those 10 boats could not handle. Not fast and not flashy but those old boats brought us out the bottom of every rapids and crossed any lake. In honor of the scout master who provided them and the boats themselves they both should be remembered!

09-19-2005
Submitted by: Carlos - Rating: 10 of 10
     I've had my Grumman for 35 years and agree 100% with the favorable comments about its ruggedness and reliability. What I didn't read in the comments is how versatile this craft is. I bought the sailing kit at the same time as the canoe and it's still in very good condition. The canoe is surprisingly stable under sail and lots of fun. Also, I subsequently bought the motor mount and on hot windless days or when going upstream I mount my 3.5 hp motor and zoom along at about 1/4 throttle. A pint of gasoline takes on a very long way.

04-25-2005
Submitted by: skip_s. - Rating: 10 of 10
     Unfortunately this canoe doesn't get the respect it deserves these days. When I bought mine 30 years ago, the dealer said it would last me a lifetime and it will. I figure the 17' Grumman has about the perfect geometry for a recreational cruiser canoe. I've owned Dagger, Mad River, and Mohawk canoes, but I'll always keep the Grumman around. I don't paddle it that much these days, but when I do it's like being back with an old friend.

04-03-2005
Submitted by: dmp - Rating: 10 of 10
     Bought in 1978 to leave on a beach for ready access. (Glass boats die in the sun.) It has been bent around a rock and has a minor ding after straightening. Best buy of a boat I have ever made. ($150) Never a regret.

08-04-2004
Submitted by: greenmonsterbrewing - Rating: 9 of 10
     Just got the one with the shoe keel (whitewater model) little heavier with the extra ribs bout overall a very nice boat. I got this rather than one of the polyethelene or royalex because of the longevity of this type of canoe (I just saw 1970's models on ebay for 4-500 dollars (half the new price) the weight is 80lbs and actually only about 5-10 lbs more than similar length royalex boat. This boat tracks well and turns pretty easily and carries 3-4 people with ease. My only complaint is the rib closest to the stern seat catches me right at my knees when I am kneeling (as I usually do ) might have to get a pad for that...

05-05-2004
Submitted by: CV - Rating: 10 of 10
     I was thinking about selling my standard 17ft Grumman in our neighborhood's garage sale this weekend and did a google to see what a reasonable price would be. After reading through the comments on this site, I've decided to keep the canoe. I was thinking about replacing it with one of the new light weight boats. The comments made me realize what a great canoe it is, how many wonderful memories it has made and that a new, light weight glass canoe wasn't what I really want.

02-05-2004
Submitted by: MDW - Rating: 9 of 10
     This canoe is about 20 years old and given to me by an old friend who no longer can paddle. Out with the gang, the Grumman is undestructable. It's not as fast, not as pretty, could be a little more comfortable, but it's the all around best canoe I've ever owned. I often carry up to four canoes, the grumman always comes off first!

01-23-2004
Submitted by: dd7 - Rating: 8 of 10
     I've had my Grumman for about 9 years, and it was used when I got it. It has always been stored outside (in the shade). It has bounced of of trees in swift rivers, been dragged through low water streams and paddled solo on calm lakes. The Grumman is nearly indestructible when given a minimal amount of care, and when used with a modicum of common sense. I agree with all of the positives listed below. This is a GREAT all-around canoe for the recreational canoeist. It is not the most efficient, nor most maneuverable, and it weighs a LOT, but it is a work horse. I compare it to my old '88 Subaru - not too fast, not too pretty, but reliable, fearless and refuses to die.

09-17-2003
Submitted by: George - Rating: 7 of 10
     A real workhorse ! More function than form. Hot in the sun...gathers condensation in the spring that pools in the bottom of the boat. Glare inside can be a problem but a can of spray paint fixes that. Shallow draft, steady on center, fairly seaworthy (surprisingly), and lots of room. If buying one get the shoe (whitewater) keel as it tracks just as well and won't hangup on rocks, etc. as the standard keel does. Can be a real long term investment.

08-30-2002
Submitted by: CJ - Rating: 10 of 10
     I've owned the Grumman Double end 17footer for about 2 years and have done over 1000 miles in river running and excursions. Mostly for recreational purposes. I am on the Gulf Coast and have also paddled in the bay, it makes an excellent fishing boat. If your by yourself, its easy on/ easy off the top of the car and with a center seat or sitting backwards in the bow seat you can get your trim set to get underway with some reasonable speed, even paddling alone. This is my first choice for an all around recreational+ canoe.

05-31-2002
Submitted by: --- - Rating: 10 of 10
     I have been paddling this canoe for the last 36 years. I started with my father as a 13 year old and still have the boat as a 49 year old. It still is my all-time favorite boat. I can carry it on a 460 rod portage, and did last summer in the boundary waters with my 13 year old. I can leave it in a barn for 5 years and when I wash it out, it looks as good as it did in the '60s!

Aluminum canoes, personally owned and cared for can be wonderful long term investments. They do not need to look like the rental fleet which the Russian Army marched over. They really do last a lifetime. I have loved sail boats and kayaks and motor boats, but if there is any boat I own which my son will be sharing with his 13 year old it will be the Grumman.

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