Kayak for a 12yr old?

Questions new members commonly ask e.g. Which kayak should I buy?
Brett
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Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by Brett »

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking at getting the young bloke a kayak, he's a keen fisher and always wants to tag along when I go.
I really hadn't thought about getting him anything as it was in the to hard basket to set up another kayak. Until I saw the lovig kayaks. I think the garfish https://slhobie.com.au/hobie/lovig-kaya ... garfish-10 would be fine for him without outlaying a lot of dollars.
Additions would be a flag, anchor and sounder(which I already have a basic one). Main targets would be squid, flathead and salmon(mount martha/safety beach/merricks/balnarring) and possibly gummies, once he has a few hrs up on it, which would possibly be across to Lang Lang or just out from somer/balnarring and merricks. Oops forgot we will no doubt try devilbend once it's open to kayaks.

I think anything larger than this would be hard for him to handle as he is only a slim built short fella, though I don't want it to be to small and make him feel unsafe.
He would only ever have minimal gear(2rods, some plastics, squid jigs a few hooks and sinkers) with him and always have me not far away in the kingfisher.

Am I on the right track or are there better options out there?

Cheers, Brett.
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laneends
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by laneends »

That the same as the glide xfx 3100 from BCF? Currently $100 cheaper
http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Glide-XFK ... yak/424208

The Ebay version http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PRO-DACE-ANG ... Sw0JpV4Dnu

No doubt he is at the start of a growth spurt so something a little longer would not only last him longer, but be safer
Brett
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by Brett »

laneends wrote:That the same as the glide xfx 3100 from BCF? Currently $100 cheaper
http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Glide-XFK ... yak/424208

The Ebay version http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PRO-DACE-ANG ... Sw0JpV4Dnu

No doubt he is at the start of a growth spurt so something a little longer would not only last him longer, but be safer

Longer would definitely be better, I originally had the idea of giving him the kingfisher and upgrading to a Hobie myself, but finances wont allow that at present, so am opting for something cheaper, to try and get him into it before he grows up and discovers the opposite sex :oops:
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laneends
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by laneends »

keep an eye out for a secondhand kingfisher. If it is obvious to him that yours handles better he will feel dudded, even if it is shiny new.
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mingle
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by mingle »

laneends wrote:That the same as the glide xfx 3100 from BCF? Currently $100 cheaper
http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Glide-XFK ... yak/424208

The Ebay version http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PRO-DACE-ANG ... Sw0JpV4Dnu

No doubt he is at the start of a growth spurt so something a little longer would not only last him longer, but be safer
These are a really good yak - a 'clone' of the Ocean Kayaks Tetra 10.

Some well-known kayak sellers are also selling this model under their own brand, so I doubt they'd put their names to an inferior or unsafe, low-quality product.

Very well-made and kitted-out. You'd have to look hard to find a better deal than this.

I have no affiliation or connection to any sellers, but have checked out this model and would've bought one if I'd had the spare wonga.

Cheers,

Mike.
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by laneends »

Brett
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by Brett »

laneends wrote:slightly longer version
http://www.kayaksonline.net/kayaks/new- ... minator-12
That's not to far away by the looks either, would be much preferred over the 10ft version, thanks Keith.
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by Brett »

mingle wrote:
laneends wrote:That the same as the glide xfx 3100 from BCF? Currently $100 cheaper
http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Glide-XFK ... yak/424208

The Ebay version http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PRO-DACE-ANG ... Sw0JpV4Dnu

No doubt he is at the start of a growth spurt so something a little longer would not only last him longer, but be safer
These are a really good yak - a 'clone' of the Ocean Kayaks Tetra 10.

Some well-known kayak sellers are also selling this model under their own brand, so I doubt they'd put their names to an inferior or unsafe, low-quality product.

Very well-made and kitted-out. You'd have to look hard to find a better deal than this.

I have no affiliation or connection to any sellers, but have checked out this model and would've bought one if I'd had the spare wonga.

Cheers,

Mike.

Thanks Mike, a mate has a tetra 10 albeit a bit small for him lol but for the young bloke I thought it was a good option, I like the 12ft version Keith posted even more and it's pretty much local in Glen Waverly. Might slip up there and have a look. Thanks for the reply.
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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by cheaterparts »

Brett wrote:
laneends wrote:slightly longer version
http://www.kayaksonline.net/kayaks/new- ... minator-12
That's not to far away by the looks either, would be much preferred over the 10ft version, thanks Keith.
Andrew at Melbourne Kayaks is pretty easy to deal with to Brett
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Gummy shark 128 Cm -- Elephant fish 85 Cm -- Snapper 91 Cm -- KG Whiting 49 Cm -- Flathead 55 Cm -- Garfish 47 Cm --Long tail Tuna 86 cm -- Silver Trevally 40 Cm -- Cobia 117 Cm -- snook 53 Cm -- Couta 71 Cm -- Squid 44 hood length


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Re: Kayak for a 12yr old?

Post by maverick »

Why not a second hand tandem? (pedal or paddle) Makes transport easier.
Well past the edge, almost at the point of no return.
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