Thanks everyone for your comments, I met briefly with Russell at Sweetwater kayaks and he is helping me look too. He was the one who suggested an Avocet LV, but he only had a moment at the time. Great guy!
I’d love an Echo, I think, but new ones are above my budget,…sigh.
Consider not buying into any of those options and just cheapening out and seeing what you find on Craigslist. It’s a bit of a gamble but you can get some great deals. I have the opposite problem as I am 6’4" but in the end sometimes it’s better to learn how to fit into things then it is to stay on a quest to find something that fits you because then you learn how to deal with stuff and become a better paddler.
Also do remember that composite will never be as durable or resilient as plastic which is heavier. No plastic isn’t as nice, it’s harder to carry and less responsive but you can do everything you’re not supposed to do to a kayak repeatedly and for years and get away with plastic. While it’s hard to fix if truly broken, it can be dragged, beached and launched from rocks stress free and it’s inexpensive enough that after decades of such abuse that it obviously can take can be replaced inexpensively so it’s a “fire and forget” no stress, worry free 100% reliable, literally zero maintenance type experience.
I live in the rocky Northeast and briefly tried out wood/composite with not so good results but I am not into resurfacing or varnishing or that sort of stuff and the beaches, if they exist, are just “dry rock gardens” for the most part.
Eventually the sit inside Kayaks are way better but it’s not bad to just spend a couple hundred bucks on something cheap to try out and then see every level above that how you get improvements so you know what each level feels like and can give you. Also the biggest hit is when you buy new, but if you buy used then you can usually turn around and re-sell it on craigslist for more or less what you paid as long as it didn’t take serious damage which is something worth considering. For such a low commitment or outlay it’s hard to go wrong just to see what you’re getting into.
Continue working with Russell, that’ll be your best course. He is familiar with paddling conditions in Maine, he came up regularly to coach at sea kayaking symposiums in the Downeast area.
@CA139 said:
Eventually the sit inside Kayaks are way better but it’s not bad to just spend a couple hundred bucks on something cheap to try out and then see every level above that how you get improvements so you know what each level feels like and can give you. .
Unsure if you read Barbara’s post that she’s been paddling a 16’5" sea kayak and is 109# and 5’4" tall.
I did, I have kids that are about 5" and 95lbs each who aren’t doing too bad in a 12 1/2 and 14 foot Tsunamis but Craigslist gives you the chance to try stuff out because if you’re used to a 16.5 foot Sea Kayak it will be much faster, generally more stable and track straighter. There’s a significant differenec between our Tsunami 125 and 140 and that’s just 18 inches of difference!
The difference of a smaller boat could be considerable and after a lifetime of being long and thin I always had problems fitting into every which thing I just gave up trying to find things that fit me. My wife criticizes me for plopping myself down, not using pillows, not making myself comfortable and assuming the most uncomfortable postures or positions to which my answer is I gave up years ago and am just dealing with it but that’s how I roll.
I am sure there is some importance to position but if it were that important the Kayak manufactures would allow much more adjustable seating like in a car.
Rookie and CA139, no need to refine the size and fit discussion here. The OPer has hooked with an outstanding resource in Russell down at Sweetwater. She will be steered correctly.
I’ll add an Impex Force 3 to the petite paddler mix. Problem will be keeping up with her. 
See you on the water,
Marshall Seddon
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: www.the-river-connection.com
Store: www.the-river-connection.us
Facebook: fb.me/theriverconnection
Is the Impex Force 3 mostly a “go fast” boat vs playful? And any paddlers under 135 who like its fit?
From my wife’s years of experience with it (5’ and as close to same weight as I will hazard) it is a go plenty fast without leaving maneuverability by the wayside, provided you’re comfortable heeling it over into a skidding turn.
I do have a paddled once Demo that needs a home. Line seam is the F3, grey is a F4.
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
9 W. Market St.
Hyde Park, NY
845-229-0595 main
845-242-4731 mobile
Main: www.the-river-connection.com
Store: www.the-river-connection.us
Facebook: fb.me/theriverconnection
Thanks!
I’ve paddled all the rivers you mentioned in both canoe and kayak. Forget the rudder or skeg, they just drag and reduce maneuverability on the small rivers. I’m 6’+, currently ~225# and use an antique plastic 16’ Aquaterra Chinook, so I cant comment on your choices except to say “drag”. Shorter the boat, deeper it sits and those low water levels in the summer on any MO river means more gravel push time. Stay narrow as you can (you really don’t need to move L/R!), give yourself the toe/knee room to flex, and pack like an ultralight hiker. If in or near STL, the Alpine Shop Paddle Days event might give you a chance to actually try before you buy.
@Caver69 said:
I’ve paddled all the rivers you mentioned in both canoe and kayak. Forget the rudder or skeg, they just drag and reduce maneuverability on the small rivers. I’m 6’+, currently ~225# and use an antique plastic 16’ Aquaterra Chinook, so I cant comment on your choices except to say “drag”. Shorter the boat, deeper it sits and those low water levels in the summer on any MO river means more gravel push time. Stay narrow as you can (you really don’t need to move L/R!), give yourself the toe/knee room to flex, and pack like an ultralight hiker. If in or near STL, the Alpine Shop Paddle Days event might give you a chance to actually try before you buy.
Am thinking you meant to post in another thread. There’s been no mention of rivers. The OP is looking for a sea kayak.
Current Designs Suka is another good one for petite people. Very light and manageable.
Thanks Sparky, this looks like a good suggestion!
Thanks for all your comments, it looks like the Pilgrim lv, Avocet lv, and the Sukarno May be some of my best options but finding a used one at a good price might prove difficult!
Yes, I have not found many used kayaks in this category myself. But please report back if you do find any and get to try them!
@“Barbara H”
Since you summer in Maine, might not be all that difficult: http://maineislandkayak.com/boat-store/used-boats/
The have some really nice offerings in their used fleet:
https://www.maineislandkayak.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Used-Demo-Flyer-112018-v2.pdf
There’s a new Suka for $1,999 on ebay. That looks like a fantastic deal if you could get to it. I have both an older and newer Caribou (bigger version for bigger person) and they are well-built, very nice handling kayaks. That’s an incredible deal for a new kayak if it works for you.
Wow. I’d almost buy a Suka at that price… if it weren’t for the inconvenient fact that I could only get one leg inside. I know someone who bought one for about $CAD 4k new.
I’ve heard the Suka is super-small. How large a paddler do you think it would fit?