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Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
By:Nick Schade
Date: 9/6/1998, 10:30 am
In Response To: Kayak for 12 yr old girl (R.F. Quinn)

Don't underestimate your daughter's ability to handle a boat. Given 15 minutes in it she can probably handle anything better than you. In other words don't go for a super stable boat to keep her from capsizing the first time she gets into it. Let her capsize the first time, she will learn how to keep just about anything upright before you know it.

Presumably she is still growing and unless you want to build a new boat every year, go somewhat oversized, but light weight. I would not recommend my Little Auk, it is too wide for someone that small. I don't currently have a design to suggest, although something like my "Play" is not too far off.

Have you considered a skin-on-frame? A west greenland style boat is pretty easy to build and easy to customize. Make up a rough frame and sit your daughter in it and adjust the frame as needed.

> I'm looking for a S&G kayak design that would be suitable for an entry
> level girl that weighs about 90 lbs...My daughter is caught up in the idea
> after attending a small boat symposium in Saginaw, MI..... She's a good
> canoer, but I'm not sure about the launch and paddling. No problem with
> the swimming....a fish in the water, so with PFD should should be okay. I
> want to build the boat with her help. She helped with the last project and
> she like the idea. Any paddlers built a kayak for kids.....Also, what
> design could she grow into?

Messages In This Thread

Kayak for 12 yr old girl
R.F. Quinn -- 9/6/1998, 12:25 pm
Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
Nathanael -- 9/16/1998, 12:45 am
Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
Paul A. Lambert -- 9/7/1998, 9:23 am
Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
L.C. -- 9/6/1998, 6:28 pm
Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
Nick Schade -- 9/6/1998, 10:30 am
Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
Mark Kanzler -- 9/7/1998, 10:30 am
Re: Kayak for 12 yr old girl
Nick Schade -- 9/7/1998, 3:27 pm
A boat for 12 yr old girl
Paul Jacobson -- 9/6/1998, 2:26 am