I’m looking for a small, simple and affordable childrens kayak. I’m not very knowledgeable in this department, anybody have any suggestions for a 40 lbs. 5 year old (soon to be 6).
Small
– Last Updated: Jan-08-08 9:34 PM EST –
That's pretty small. I don't think you'll get a great fit with any stock boat, but here are a few possibilities. Don't forget to look for used ones.
Sit-on-tops like the Kea are great for kids because flipping is no big deal -- just flip it back upright and it drains itself.
Perception Acadia Scout
http://www.paddling.net/buyersguide/showBoat.html?boatID=1819&boattype=Kayaks
Ocean Kayak Kea
http://www.oceankayak.com/kayaks/single_kayaks/kea.html
Jackson Mini Tripper
http://www.jacksonrec.com/kayaks/minitripper.cfm
Jackson Fun 1
http://www.jacksonkayak.com/kayaks/product.cfm?product=kidseries
If you like to build stuff, there are more options...
http://www.yostwerks.com/SeaFlea1.html
Resisting urge…
to recommend a styrofoam block.
I guess the tandom canoe thing is out? Most kids will tire or get bored with that anyway. Just get your tow rope ready for when the kiddo gives out.
jim
Kid’s Kayak
I had seen one of these in a local sports store. You would need to contact the company to see if there was a retailer in your area.
http://www.emscogroup.com/products/product?id=62&category_id=12
Perception Acadia Scouts
We got two last spring, when the kids were 6 (almost 7) and 8. They’re 25 pounds each and easy for the kids to handle.
Don’t expect a 6 year old to go very far by themselves in any boat. Let them tool around with it in a calm shallow lake or a short section of easy river. Make it fun, and definitely be prepared to tow them.
Red Pamlico 100
My 9 year old had a blast in a friend’s Pamlico 100. She was a bit small for it but she still had fun paddling close to shore for 20-30 minutes.
http://www.paddleaway.com/static/images/photos/pamlico_100.jpg
-Rich
kids kayak
I started both my sons at age 6 in Old Town Otters. They are cheap and very stable (until they get some water in them). We have kept them even though our sons have advanced to “real” boats, for use with friend’s kids and small beginner adults. The roomy cockpit allows kids to pile in junk, and when they turn over, they just fall out, no need to roll or wet exit at that age.
kids kayak
I started both my sons at age 6 in Old Town Otters. They are cheap and very stable (until they get some water in them). We have kept them even though our sons have advanced to “real” boats, for use with friend’s kids and small beginner adults. The roomy cockpit allows kids to pile in junk, and when they turn over, they just fall out, no need to roll or wet exit at that age.
Cobra Wave
If you can find one (discontinued). It is a SOT, light, stable, tracks well but is highly maneuverable. It was meant to be a surf kayak. The important thing is it is fairly narrow. Putting a child in a 30" wide boat is like you in 4’ wide boat. I was lucky enough to find 2 for my grandsons. Just be ready to do some towing as 6 year olds dont have the attention span or the stamina for long paddles. Once it is a chore it is over.
umiak/carolina 12xs
– Last Updated: Jan-09-08 12:50 PM EST –
Can't really compare to other kid models, but the Perception Umiak/Carolina 12xs is a great little boat - very fast and surprisingly maneuverable. My kids love theirs. I got the boats for about half price as 'blems', but the only blem I could find was that the molded-in name was "Carolina 12" instead of "Carolina 12xs" (factory changed the names for 2007, and these were 2006 models).
Quote from my 7 year old daughter after her first time paddling it: "Wow, when I work hard with the paddle, it feels like I'm flying!"
For most kids, 5 to 6 is just below the cusp of having enough strength and body awareness/coordination to really control a boat on their own, so be prepared to do a lot of towing/chasing. My 4 year old can keep the boat straight and turn it slowly with some coaching as long as the wind is calm, but anything more than a gentle breeze will send him drifting. He also gets tired/bored after 30 minutes or so. My 7 year old zips wherever she likes, even in the wind, and she'll go all day if there's another kid along for her to paddle with.
Stay away from adult rec boats unless you need the extreme stability (super squirmy kid or issues with balance) - they make it really hard for kids to reach the water, though they do work in a pinch if it's all you have access to.
You can see some comparison images here:
http://omalley.smugmug.com/gallery/3652756/#216280115
Either copy and paste the whole link, or click through to the later pages of the gallery to see the kid boats vs adult. The adult boats are a Pungo 100 and a Tsunami 125.
A real kids kayak
The best kayak for a child that size is the Parr by Redfish Kayaks. It’s 12’ long and only 18" wide. It’s very efficient and easy for kids to paddle. The only thing is that you have to build it yourself. I built one for my son, and it’s perfect for him. My son turns 6 in 3 weeks.
What others have said is absolutely true, don’t expect your child to paddle for very long, they do get bored after a little while.
One Ocean Kayaks is in the process of designing a smaller version of the Cirrus, it will be sized for small adults and children. Probably still a bit big for your needs. It’s a Stitch and Glue design so it’s easier/faster to build than a strip-built kayak.
Here are the links:
http://www.redfishkayak.com/parr.htm
http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/index.htm
Good luck,
Pedro Almeida
Thanks!
Nice comparison – you can see that the coaming on the adult boats almost comes up to the younger one’s armpits.
Also
– Last Updated: Jan-09-08 4:17 PM EST –
http://www.shearwater-boats.com/Risingstar.html
http://www.pygmyboats.com/mall/GE10SPEC.asp
But we may be straying from the "simple" the original poster asked for...;-)
The WS Tsunami SP is a newer design that's similar in size to the Carolina 12XS. There's also the EPI Episea. And going up in price there's the CD Raven.
Tsunami 120SP - Good call!
I picked up the Tsunami 120SP at 12 feet long and 21 inches wide with a 9 inch deck height. Great boat, great glide for a kids boat, stable, low deck that fits them with adjustable thigh braces and nice seat.
That all said - the best feature is bulkheads fore and aft with dry hatches to carry gear, but more importantly, to provide more flotation. I picked one up for my 7 and 11 yr old last year at a demo day for $525 and will pick up another at this year’s same demo day so they quit fighting over it!!
Scott
Child sized SOF?
There could be some real advantages to building a child sized SOF boat…
Custom size
Make it as stable as you like and/or make an outrigger setup for it (as seen in Chris Cunningham’s “Building the Greenland Kayak” book).
Lightweight
Very inexpensive to build
When the first one is outgrown, pass it on to another small child, or use it as a nice light fixture/lampshade in your boat building shop (aka garage), then build another…and so on.
A friend of mine has two young sons (10 and 12), and this past Summer, they really wanted to try some paddling. I only have two boats–a CD Caribou and a S&G Arctic Hawk. Definitely too big for them, but since that’s all I had, they paddled them…with GPs, no less! (may as well start them off with the best! :-)). We only let them paddle close to shore on a calm lake, but they had a blast for several hours, and can’t wait to paddle again. Their father is now thinking about building a couple of small SOF boats for them this Winter, so they’ll be ready to paddle in the Spring.
Melissa
Emotion
Emotion has some sit on tops which I highly recommend. A child that young will want to treat it like a floating dock anyway. This is what I bought for my 8 year old at the time. It’s in the $375-$400 range.
http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/Charger.htm#
Yost Sea Pup/Flea?
http://groups.msn.com/ThePhillipsFamilyAdventure/yourwebpage3.msnw
http://www.yostwerks.com/SeaPup00.html
Building them with a wooden frame looks fairly straightforward.
small kayak
I think EPI makes a small kayak