I bought my son the Emotion Youth Recruit Kayak for his 7th birthday. He is about 49" and 72lbs and it fits him well, with room to grow. We chose this kayak because he has become a little too big to sit with me in my Old Town Vapor 12 and is still a little too small to paddle an Old Town Otter on his own. The Recruit is well suited for a beginner since it is a sit on top. If they were to flip over, they don't have to bail it out to get back in. Also, this kayak has built in handholds and a flat ramp in the back to allow the child to easily pull themselves back in. So far on his maiden voyage, I don't think we will have to worry about that anyway - this kayak is very stable on flat water. It was calm day on a local reservoir and he paddled well with the included paddle, even pulling himself though the thick weeds in some sections. Shopping around for sales and using coupons, we were able to get this kayak for $80 new from a major retailer which is a good deal since it includes a paddle in the package. Out the door, the kayak is pretty basic and can be uncomfortable to a child to spend much time in. Knowing about the lack of body support in the molded in seating area, I purchased a paddled seat with back rest, and also installed deck rigging across the back and a paddle clip on the side. My son thought the upgraded seat was so comfortable he could have taken a nap in it. The rigging allowed me to add a mini milk crate with rod holder so we can do some fishing. I also attached a flag made from a tent pole to the back to make him more visible, since the boat is low to the water and only 6.5' long, just in case people don't notice the lime green kayak. He is very happy with it and excited to spend more time on the water. This is a great kids kayak once you add a few easy upgrades.
