[Paddlewise] Sea Kayaking for Kids

Hi

I'd greatly welcome some advice on introducing my 9 year old son to sea
kayaking. My 11 y.o. daughter fits reasonably O.K. in my faithful old 16
foot McNulty Huntsman fibreglass sea kayak (I now paddle a Feathercraft K-1
which is way too big for the kids), but my son is really too small for the
McNulty (he is quite small for his age, though growing). They are both
getting some pool sessions at the moment (with a qualified instructor), and
are very keen. I've towed my son around in the McNulty in wading-depth
water, but he really now wants to start some proper paddling (both kids have
wetsuits).

So I am looking to get a smaller kayak for my son in the Spring: almost
certainly a general purpose/recreational polyethylene kayak. Some
possibilities are the Pyranha Master Lite, the Dagger Blast, or the
Perception Dancer Junior; there are other makes and models no doubt, not all
of which are available in the U.K. where I live.  We live on the North West
Coast of the Scottish Highlands, right on the shore of a sea loch which
gives reasonably sheltered sea kayaking on the upper portion of the loch:
sometimes a fair skelp of wind and a fair bit of tide, but wave action is
usually subdued. A drop-down or slip-on skeg would no doubt be a bonus. I
have considered a double, but frankly it would be too expensive, too big,
and neither of the kids is keen on being a passenger.

So any views or ideas about the most suitable (affordable) first kayak for a
young'un? And if anyone has any good advice about teaching youngsters, that
too would be great.

Thanks in advance

Nick

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************