Looking for ideas on how to include kids with kayaking. We have a 22 month old, and are mostly interested in sea kayaking, in the Puget Sound area, reasonably protected waters. When she was really little, I had my daughter on my lap while paddling in a double. Now that she is older and bigger, I've tried putting her in the front cockpit of a double, and rented a "pungo" single large "recreational" cockpit she can move around in. This works ok if she is all the way forward in the cockpit, but if she moves back, it interferes with paddling. Another option, that we haven't explored yet, is getting ahold of a smaller, kid scale kayak, put some sponsons on, and tow. At some point, I'd like her in her own kayak, even helping paddle a bit, and getting a tow when she gets tired. I'm willing to try the towing arrangment now, but my wife is nervous about that. We've also just arranged for a sitter, or a friend come with us and we trade off who stays on shore to babysit while we paddle around. My daughter seems to enjoy being in the kayak, looking at the sites (boat is one of her first words), and splashing a hand in the water. Ideas? Preferably something that doesn't mean having to buy a new kayak or expensive gear every year as the configuration changes. thanks dave -- Dave Uebele (daveu_at_sptddog.com) Spotted Dog Systems http://sptddog.com/daveu.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The Olympic Outdoor Center in Poulsbo has a kids program, only it is for larger kids (http://www.kayakproshop.com). What do people think are the best kids boats these days for sea kayaking and whitewater? What about the issue that they outgrow things quickly. (Came up in idle conversation the other day) On Fri, 25 Jun 1999, Dave Uebele wrote: > Looking for ideas on how to include kids with kayaking. > We have a 22 month old, and are mostly interested in > sea kayaking, in the Puget Sound area, reasonably protected waters. > > When she was really little, I had my daughter on my lap > while paddling in a double. > Now that she is older and bigger, I've tried putting her in the > front cockpit of a double, and rented a "pungo" single large "recreational" > cockpit she can move around in. This works ok if she is all the > way forward in the cockpit, but if she moves back, it > interferes with paddling. > > Another option, that we haven't explored yet, is getting ahold > of a smaller, kid scale kayak, put some sponsons on, and tow. > At some point, I'd like her in her own kayak, even helping paddle > a bit, and getting a tow when she gets tired. > I'm willing to try the towing arrangment now, but my wife > is nervous about that. > > We've also just arranged for a sitter, or a friend come > with us and we trade off who stays on shore to babysit > while we paddle around. > > My daughter seems to enjoy being in the kayak, looking at the sites > (boat is one of her first words), and splashing a hand in the water. > > Ideas? Preferably something that doesn't mean having > to buy a new kayak or expensive gear every year as the configuration > changes. > > thanks > dave > -- > Dave Uebele (daveu_at_sptddog.com) Spotted Dog Systems > http://sptddog.com/daveu.html > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** > Andree Hurley Hurley Design Communications - ICQ# 27469637 On-line Editor - http://www.canoekayak.com Other Kayaking - http://www.onwatersports.com Web Sites for Specialty Businesses - http://www.viewit.com/HDC/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > The Olympic Outdoor Center in Poulsbo has a kids program, only it is for > larger kids (http://www.kayakproshop.com). > > What do people think are the best kids boats these days for sea kayaking > and whitewater? Check out the boats from EPI (Englehart Products Inc.). -- John Fereira jaf30_at_cornell.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Fri, 25 Jun 1999, Dave Uebele wrote: > Looking for ideas on how to include kids with kayaking. > We have a 22 month old, and are mostly interested in > sea kayaking, in the Puget Sound area, reasonably protected waters. I've got a 3 year old. I take him out regularly in canoes but haven't got a kayak solution I'm happy with. I've been meaning to build an small greenland style kayak for him. With the intention of using his kayak as an amas (outrigger) for my boat. That way if he paddles wonderful if not he's where I can see him. My wife would follow us around in her kayak. Also be sure to have your child do some swimming in the pfd so they don't freak if they fall in, plus I've heard of a child trying a pfd and discovering that they floated head down!!! Also I modified my sons pfd so that it would be more comfortable when he's just sitting boat. Thus far the best canoe solution has been to have him play in the middle of our Old Town tripper while I pole. kirk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>Looking for ideas on how to include kids with kayaking. >We have a 22 month old, and are mostly interested in >sea kayaking, in the Puget Sound area, reasonably protected waters. > My wife and I took a very nice 4 day trip in the Octopus Islands, BC with our 3 year old in my wife's lap in a Feathercraft double. We even portaged the double with Rachel in it. This was tough. Between 4 and 7 she was too big for laps and too small and irresponsible to go in the front alone. After 7 we took a few camping trips with Rachel in the front of the Feathercraft or in the front of a Current Designs Libra (the smaller model). My wife was along in a single. The Libra was much better. Much easier to paddle alone from the back. But after age 8 Rachel was able to contribute a small but significant bit to forward power if she paddled with a $350 ultra light paddle. The trouble is she gets bored. Rather play with her friends. Jerry *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
-----Original Message----- From: Dave Uebele <daveu_at_sptddog.com> >We have a 22 month old, and are mostly interested in >sea kayaking, in the Puget Sound area, reasonably protected waters. > >When she was really little, I had my daughter on my lap >while paddling in a double. >Now that she is older and bigger, I've tried putting her in the >front cockpit of a double, and rented a "pungo" single large "recreational" >cockpit she can move around in. This works ok if she is all the >way forward in the cockpit, but if she moves back, it >interferes with paddling. My kids sat on my lap or between my legs until they were 7 or 8. As they got bigger the on the lap position could not be maintained as long before my legs tired. They gripped the paddle between my hands and could add the ammount of effort to my stroke that they pleased. They also learned stroke mechanics so that when they got in their own boat they were naturals. Some hints: put a waterproof foam pad between your legs for them to sit on. In that position their head would rest on my belly but they could see out easily. I would also suggest that you pad the middle of your paddle with some light pipe insulation so if you bang them in the teeth or head with the shaft it is no big deal. > >Another option, that we haven't explored yet, is getting ahold >of a smaller, kid scale kayak, put some sponsons on, and tow. >At some point, I'd like her in her own kayak, even helping paddle >a bit, and getting a tow when she gets tired. >I'm willing to try the towing arrangment now, but my wife >is nervous about that. I'd wait until she is wanting to be on her own more rather than be just be snuggled up to daddy to do this. You probably don't need no stinking Sp*ns*ns because small children are very stable in even a kayak that is very tippy for a larger paddler. I bought a kids Olympic trainer that I could hardly keep upright. At first when they were small it was very stable for them and as they grew their balanced improved with time in the kayak to match the increasing degree of tippiness. When they were younger than 11 or so and in their own kayaks a mile was as far as they wanted to have to paddle. Bring towlines so they can stop paddling when they feel like it (so you don't push them into never wanting to paddle again just to get back to the car. Matt Broze > >-- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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. 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. While we have towed our daughter occasionally it is something we try not to do and it is only for a short time. I hope some of this helps. K.Stevens Coastal Waters Recreation Victoria, B.C. Website: http://www.islandnet.com/~stevens/home.html -----Original Message----- From: Matt Broze [SMTP:mkayaks_at_oz.net] Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 9:25 PM To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] kids and kayaks -----Original Message----- From: Dave Uebele <daveu_at_sptddog.com> >We have a 22 month old, and are mostly interested in >sea kayaking, in the Puget Sound area, reasonably protected waters. > >When she was really little, I had my daughter on my lap >while paddling in a double. >Now that she is older and bigger, I've tried putting her in the >front cockpit of a double, and rented a "pungo" single large "recreational" >cockpit she can move around in. This works ok if she is all the >way forward in the cockpit, but if she moves back, it >interferes with paddling. My kids sat on my lap or between my legs until they were 7 or 8. As they got bigger the on the lap position could not be maintained as long before my legs tired. They gripped the paddle between my hands and could add the ammount of effort to my stroke that they pleased. They also learned stroke mechanics so that when they got in their own boat they were naturals. Some hints: put a waterproof foam pad between your legs for them to sit on. In that position their head would rest on my belly but they could see out easily. I would also suggest that you pad the middle of your paddle with some light pipe insulation so if you bang them in the teeth or head with the shaft it is no big deal. > >Another option, that we haven't explored yet, is getting ahold >of a smaller, kid scale kayak, put some sponsons on, and tow. >At some point, I'd like her in her own kayak, even helping paddle >a bit, and getting a tow when she gets tired. >I'm willing to try the towing arrangment now, but my wife >is nervous about that. I'd wait until she is wanting to be on her own more rather than be just be snuggled up to daddy to do this. You probably don't need no stinking Sp*ns*ns because small children are very stable in even a kayak that is very tippy for a larger paddler. I bought a kids Olympic trainer that I could hardly keep upright. At first when they were small it was very stable for them and as they grew their balanced improved with time in the kayak to match the increasing degree of tippiness. When they were younger than 11 or so and in their own kayaks a mile was as far as they wanted to have to paddle. Bring towlines so they can stop paddling when they feel like it (so you don't push them into never wanting to paddle again just to get back to the car. Matt Broze > >-- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
-----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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Arther Hebert wrote: > We may not paddle long distances >but we have a lot fun playing games (not to mention the games help to >sharpen her paddling skills). Does anyone know any more games we can play? >We also bring one of her friends with us as often as possible... If you have manual (hand-held) bilge pumps, they make great squirt guns. You and you daughter can surprise her friends (usually works only once). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:00 PDT