Recommendation for a 7 yr olds first kayak

I would like to start looking for a kayak my 7 yr old Grandson. Needs to be on the less expensive side.
Sit on top or sit inside? Length? He would be fishing from it. Thanks

I think much of that depends on the strengh, size, etc of the child.  Spot and some other guys (ravadot) might have some really good suggestions.  Mine have enjoyed my mini-x, but they are a couple years older.

7 y/o's don't get very far on their own.  You definitely want to go with a sit on top.  For a year or two, you may be able to get away with one of the Department store kids mini sit-on-tops.  Cheap and light weight.  Not for serious angling but plenty for a little guy. 

That said, unless your grandson is in the 80th+ percentile for size, the best way for him to get out and enjoy fishing this year will be sitting your tankwell.

-Spot-

Don't ask Ravdakot his boy pedals a Revo...ballah

Dino -HOW NWest

Haha, he's not exactly an average 7 year old though. That kid's 90lbs!

I started my kids in the front of a Cobra F'n'D with me being the operator. The Emotion Spitfire are neat little boats that won't break the bank. Lee had a pair for his girls.

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I started my kids on Emotion Sparkys when they were 8. They're middle-of-the-curve overall, the boy's a bit small for his age, the girl is tall. These are not very good fishing boats but they were a good introduction to kayaking: dead simple, nothing to hurt, nothing to mess up, safe as these things go, cheap, and easy to find.

However, these are not adequate at all for anything other than calm water, and they don't track at all. That is fine for me, but might not work for other situations.

The kids will be 10 in January and my daughter is getting too big for the Sparky. I expect she'll start paddling my wife's OK Venus 11 now. It might be a bit big for her to start but she'll grow into it.

That is just my experience... hope it helps.

My grandkids really like the Lifetime Wave I got last summer.  Successfully paddled by kids 6 and older.  Cody was 8 when this picture was taken.  His first solo was in a West Marine 12' branded WS Tempest 120, at age 7, but it was to big and heavy for him to enjoy it.  His 1st solo paddle ended with me helping tow him back to shore.  The Wave is about half the length and 1/3 the weight of the Tempest.

The Lifetime Wave came with a paddle which is nice.  It is light, stable and while it does not track terribly well, that helps teach better paddle technique.  Works best if total paddle distance is less than a mile.  We tried a longer paddle with a 10-year old last summer and he got tired fairly quickly.  Kayak paddling uses arm muscles that most kids won't have without repeated paddling.  I would not put a 7-year old kid into rough water or bad weather, but as long as you are near, kids like the freedom of their own kayak. 

All the usual warnings apply, they should know how to swim, be comfortable in and on the water, have a PFD, etc.  Either myself or another adult is always close by just in case.

My kids started out in a 12' canoe at about age 10, but sit-on-top kayaks are a better bet.  Too bad SOTs didn't exist back when my kids were still kids...  At age 12 my daughter used to enjoy standing up in the canoe and paddling.  I guess she was anticipating standup paddle boards...

+1 for the wave. Got ours shipped and to the door - with paddle - for under a hundo.

Thanks for the info. My Greatgrandson  sat in front of me in my Wilderness Tarpon 120 when he was 5 1/2 and caught a fish. He is bigger of course at 7 and I have a Hobie Outback. He is comfortable on the water  and I think he would love to paddle his own kayak. I would be right there and tow him if necessary. We fish the lakes around Klamath Falls. I will keep my eye out for your suggestions for next summer.

I need to check those wave's out.  My son turns 9 today.  Slightly on the small side of normal, he managed to peddle my outback with the seats on the forward peg and pedals set to the shortest setting.  Couldn't get a full stroke in but he moved right along.

After seeing him in a smaller, what I might consider more kid friendly kayak, the mini-x, my conclusion is that the outback is much better suited for him.  Mainly because of the added stability.  So maybe I should say the outback is better suited for the parent watching the kid.  He got around fine and I bet we covered several miles of the course of a few hours.  He even caught fish!

Amas was too much.  It got in the way of me pulling up along side of him to assist. 

An he is wearing a PFD under his jacket. ....Oh crap...my son turns nine TODAY!!!  Argh.....we had the birthday party for him last month so it wouldn't double up on Christmas...still....

Like Ravdakot said, those little emotion kayaks are great.  My kids loved them and used them as floating diving boards.  They use Revos now, but that's just by default, they'd still be happy with the emotions for play time.

I think it needs to be a tandem as a training vessel.

I like the Emotion I picked up off CL for my girls (now 11 &9).  I think there are some pics of them on it at Prineville Reservior from old posts? The yak is just right for them and I can tow it behind me with ease.  I am thinking It will come with me as a gear carrier on my next John Day trip.  My only rule with the girls  Yakking or Fishing is to keep it simple and fun- and always get Dairy Queen ice cream afterwords, always. 
-Scott

My only rule with the girls  Yakking or Fishing is to keep it simple and fun- and always get Dairy Queen ice cream afterwords, always. 

That is how I get my oldest son to go with me.