Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
May 28, 2026, 04:32:20 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Recent Topics

[May 27, 2026, 05:21:24 AM]

[May 23, 2026, 03:57:46 PM]

[May 13, 2026, 04:42:56 PM]

[May 12, 2026, 10:41:59 AM]

by jed
[May 05, 2026, 01:23:18 PM]

[April 29, 2026, 12:53:25 PM]

by jed
[April 29, 2026, 05:20:26 AM]

[April 22, 2026, 08:04:50 PM]

[April 21, 2026, 01:21:21 PM]

[April 21, 2026, 11:55:15 AM]

[April 14, 2026, 01:34:20 PM]

[April 10, 2026, 02:31:33 PM]

[April 08, 2026, 03:35:55 PM]

[April 08, 2026, 10:18:44 AM]

[April 06, 2026, 09:30:33 AM]

Picture Of The Month



Soaker with a spring sturgeon

Topic: Kids boats and Secondary Stability  (Read 2742 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

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 »