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by Shad
[September 03, 2025, 11:53:58 AM]

Picture Of The Month



Guess who's back?
jed with a spring Big Mack

Topic: Kids boats and Secondary Stability  (Read 2606 times)

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mhl

  • Herring
  • **
  • Date Registered: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 21
My boys are 10-11 years old, and have SIK experience; they can paddle solo.  For a SOT, I've considered 8-11' boats for them.  They will fish, and I want them to grow into their boats, so I think I'll enhance their muscle development with something like a 10'x33" boat.  Weights are 95-110.  Any suggestions from those of you with kids on models, lengths, or other that I've not thought of yet?  What about paddle lengths?


ThreeWeight

  • Salmon
  • ******
  • Date Registered: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 584
I wouldn't worry too much about super stability, remember that with smaller bodies comes a lower center of gravity.  I'd actually have them test paddle something like an OK Prowler.  Light, fast, agile, and certainly a boat they can grow into.


Alkasazi

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Alkasazi
  • Location: Columbia Gorge
  • Date Registered: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 485
I've got 2 kids, and 11-year old son (5'2", 120 lbs), and a 10-year old daughter(4'8", 70 lbs). For the last couple years, they've been paddling the Ocean Kayak Caper Angler & Venus 11, respectively. They've both with really happy with the boats, along with all their cousins and friends. At the end of the summer, I moved my son into a Trident 11 angler, which he also liked a lot. He's tried out my Prowler 13 a couple times, but liked the added maneuverability of the shorter boats. Stability (primary & secondary) shouldn't be an issue in most sot's at their size, so I wouldn't worry about width too much.

As for paddle lengths, 190-210cm is pretty common for kids. For sit-on-tops, I'd lean more towards the 200-210 range, it gives them a bit more reach over the edge, and they tend to not hit their hands as often.


Brian


mhl

  • Herring
  • **
  • Date Registered: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 21
I've read the Cobra Escape has high sides (tough to climb in for kids), and that the "tri-hull design" with a rounded center hull needs at least 100 lbs to stablize it, or it tips like a bike with training wheels. 
On a minor note, I don't think the Escape has seat scuppers, making it wet in the seat well.  Could this be right?
« Last Edit: September 26, 2008, 08:03:54 PM by mhl »