Re: [Paddlewise] kids and kayaks

-----Original Message-----
From: Kirby Stevens <stevens_at_islandnet.com>
To: 'Matt Broze' <mkayaks_at_oz.net>; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
<PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Monday, June 28, 1999 7:55 AM
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] kids and kayaks


>Kids and Kayaks.

>>Generally kids should not paddle alone on trips until they are well into
their teens.    At 11 or  12 they are still much too young to paddle a boat
on their own for long distances.     My daughter is 12 going on 13 this
summer and she has paddled with us since she was 6 months old.      She is
an excellent paddler for her age we would still not think of letting her
"solo" until she is much older on trips.    As for shorter day trips she
does have her own boat and can handle it very well.<<
I never did anything but short day trips mostly on a lake with my children
paddling in singles. By the time they were ready to go on bigger trips they
would rather not go with their parents anywhere if they could avoid it.

>>As for bringing towlines for kids.   This can also be very dangerous in
itself.    You have to remember that the person you are towing is not an
adult and is a child.   When the water changes this situation can provide
dire consequences.<<

Please elaborate on the dangers of towing children, Where we paddled I never
felt they were in any partcular danger at all paddling or being towed except
maybe from some drunken powerboater gone completely berzerk.

>>While we have towed our daughter occasionally it is something we try not
to do and it is only for a short time.<<

Yeah who wants to tow someone if you don't have to. Or maybe you are
refering to the unspoken dangers above.

Matt Broze


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