Need Advice- Kayaks for 2 Young Girls

[R_Corter]

Will be getting 2 yaks for girls ages 11 for Christmas this year. I don't know yaks, I canoe they want to yak......

Things I'm looking for,
something they can grow into
tracks well!
mild-moderate whitewater, upper Buffalo, Big Piney, Mulberry

[Randy Dodson]

I don't know yaks either (strictly an open boater) but if you want something that tracks well and is good for Piney Mulberry Upper Buffalo, is there a Dagger Zydeco sized for 11 year olds? Just wondering.

[EricClay]

I have been looking for my daughter and she is only four. From what I've been told and read it seems to me that Jackson makes the best children's kayaks. To be honest their weight/size matter more than age. Just about the only 30-60 pound boat I can even find is made by Jackson. Apparently there aren't many options for smaller children.

[Prairie Tater]

About 10-12 years ago I purchased two Stearns 1K84 (7ft.) inflatable kayaks for my grandsons who were about 7 & 8 at the time. I got the idea from Nick Hobbs who had Hunter in one of them at the time. They loved them! They did the Buffalo, Mulberry (several times), North Fork of the White, and even the St. Frances in them. Now, my son's boys (8 & 10) are paddling them. Unfortunately, Stearns quit producing this model. Too bad. I think they were perfect for the young paddler who wants to be introduced to moving or flat water. And they were inexpensive. I think I gave a little over a hundred bucks apiece on line for mine.

So I did some research and found this: http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Elements ... ts+Firefly" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
These are a little larger than the Stearns, but they might just work for you.

Another thing...I fashioned some pedestals from minicell foam to fit in the cockpits. This allowed the boys to sit in a kneeling position and raised their torsos so they could reach out over the tubes to perform their paddle strokes.

This is one of my grandson's first time in the inflatable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkBk4B0u64o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I really hope this helps. I love to see kids on the water paddling their own boat.

Terry Prater

[gannon311]

I agree that Jackson makes the best kid boats. Although LL makes a small remix, I think its a remix 47. If you think one of them would like a sot. I have a small one that my daughter paddled for $100. It's not the best made but it's cheap!!

[Sparky]

Just had an 8 year old grandson and 10 year old granddaughter on the Buffalo last Thursday. They took turns in a NRS Maverick IK. Weighs around 20 lbs. They had a blast. They've both been in canoes and rafted the Nanty with us several times, so they're comfortable on the water. We just put them in the boat and made sure they had the paddle facing correctly. No instruction except "you can figure it out" and they both did. I'm with Terry, IK's are a great place to start. And that's coming from an open boater.

Brent

[R_Corter]

Thanks for the replies I will be looking in to the recommendations.

[MissEllie]

The Jackson Kayaks have some great boats for kids.

http://jacksonkayak.com/jk-kayaks-4/you ... uth-kayaks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Here is a link to a sale/clearance list that has some on there... you might want to check it out.

http://kayakinstruct.com/kayakUsed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ellie

[hilbili]

by blending/blurring the lines between function, kayak manufacturers have added a category. sounds like a "river running playboat" might fit the bill. the remix is an older design that has been describrd as "surfs well" and should track ok on the long pools. might be easier to roll than the flatter play boats like the fun from jackson.

[R_Corter]

I am possibly going after 3 of these, Pelican Pursuit 80 DLX 8' Kayak. We have 3 of our oldest girls wanting one now instead of 2! They have excellent reviews and several reviews on kids as young as 7! Excellent price! They do lack tracking from what I gather but I may add a rudder/fin depending on how the kids can handle them. 26lbs!!



http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/pelican ... =399276555" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More good reviews here,
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showRev ... ?prod=3187" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cowper]

Since you're outfitting 3 girls (plus of course your own gear) I realize budget will have to play a bigger role in your choices than it would in mine. But I still feel I should at least put in a plug for some other options to consider.

Whatever you go with, be sure to get some floatation in the boat. The pelicans in particular are made of a plastic that does not float; I think some of them will actually sink to the bottom if swamped, although they may have different plastics depending on the model.

Get something that you can add a sprayskirt to. Since almost everything has a rim, what I'm really saying is make sure you can find a skirt for any model you're considering. Even if it is a recreational model not suited to eskimo rolls, the skirt will be much appreciated on rivers with standing waves like the Piney and Mulberry, as well as on cooler days even on flatwater. Nylon skirts won't hold you in the boat until released like the neoprene WW models, they just pop off if you fall over.

Again, considering budget issues, get at least one boat that is more of a true "whitewater" model, that can be fitted with a good skirt and used to learn eskimo rolls. The girls can take turns if needed, or just let the oldest or most adventurous of the three use that one. Learning to roll totally opens up the sport of kayaking to new dimensions. Used these boats can be had reasonable prices if you keep shopping around.

Spend some time at Malvern or the Siloam park if you haven't already. The recreational model kayaks are not very well suited to the type of play you see there; so be aware of that limitation if you decide to go with the lower cost recreational boat options. It may go great, and allow their interest to grow at their own very controlled pace, but it may also leave you looking for three more boats in as little as 12 to 18 months when they see what folks are doing in the other types of boats.

[fzburk]

In the past I taught kid classes and used a Perception Carolina 12, also called a Umiak when Aquaterra made them.

http://www.perceptionkayaks.com/product ... ina_12_xs/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Mark

[Jim Krueger]

I certainly agree with the need for a spray skirt, as has been mentioned, it is a given that the boat will take on water over the front end or sides on occasion. We've had real good luck with the yellow and gray rec. skirts by Liquid Logic.

Another needed kayak feature not mentioned here is some system of foot braces, either a solid foam bulkhead, or more likely adjustable foot pegs. I had a student several years ago who kept flipping when trying to peel-out in a pretty good jet of water. Finally, I was helping dump the boat out after the third capsize only to be shocked when I looked up inside the boat and realized the ladies economy model Otter didn't come with any sort of foot braces. It was little wonder to me then why she hadn't been able to lean, edge her boat. It was a wake-up call for me, I had previously assumed all rec. kayaks at least had foot pegs. I took a look at this Pelican model on their site and, if I'm reading the specs./options correctly, it too has no form of foot support. I do like the fact that it's cockpit size is reasonable for using a skirt with, but think the foot brace issue would need to be corrected maybe with generic add-on foot pegs or a home made foam bulkhead type support.

Best Regards
Jim