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Hefe - designed to run steep, hard whitewater. IMO one of the best southeast creek boats ever designed (Grande even better)
Diesel - designed as a river runner, does almost everything a creek boat will do but not quite as good at resurfacing/turning/boofing or truly helping you when the feces hits the wind machine. This is one of the biggest differences to me between creek boats and river runners.
I would prefer Diesel/Burn on rivers where surfing might come into play or big water. Nice to have some sort of edge or chine to hold a line when on big water, without a bulbous/hugely rockered bow being deflected.
I like the Hefe(Grande) for truly steep, rocky, low volume creeks. Huge bow rocker goes over most things, resurfaces really fast and has no want to catch anything when you screw up. Super friendly.
Steep rivers that have volume, give me a Habitat 80 all day. Less bow rocker than Hefe and just enough edge in stern to really help hold a line. IMO it is the best overall creek boat made. The do everything boat, not quite as good at the super steep, low volume runs as the Hefe/Grande but it is still very good and on bigger volume runs, it rules.
Bottom line; if you are truly on steeper creeks, be in something that gives you confidence and hopefully has your back when you screw up! If paddling class IV or below, river runners are fine choices and the Diesel is one of the best. Sorry for bringing more boats into the pic but there are soo many good choices today and I have been fortunate enough to paddle/own alot of them.
Chris |
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probably being trolled but... New 
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