I was wondering if anyone ever hauled a kid in their non-tandem yak and if so how well did it work and were did they sit?

I am still looking and researching for my first yak and I am interest in the Ride 135, x-factor, various OKs, a moken 14, plus some others. I know the x-factor will work with the gator hatch, but has anyone had a kid sit on the ride's or moken's hatch? The moken even looks to have a little space between the deck and the hatch that in my mind might just would work for a kids feet.

I am open to tandems like the Big Tuna, but my kid is only 1 so I will have a few years before he can go out. Don't know if I really want to paddle a Tuna by myself for a few years for no reason other than it will support my 270 lbs with no problem.

Buy whatever kayak suits your solo needs best.

By the time your kid is old enough to go out you'll probably want a different kayak anyways.

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. I can alway sell it or just buy a tandem in a few years.

I took my 4 year old out in my necky manitou 14. It's a sit inside. He sat right in front of me and did just fine.

I have a jackson cruise 12. And my 8 year old daughter rides in the rear. An we both fish out of it too. You just can't take a bunch gear. Also just do local small ponds. Never big water. It dose paddle different tho. I guess it her wiggling around an us in opposite directions. Lol it's fun tho if you get a double hook up it spends you in circles. Kid really likes that. Pfds for sure. An tight line

i bought my malibu x13 with the gator hatch just to make sure my son had a seat, he sat up there about 4 times. now he has his own. it worked great and he had plenty of room could even lay down and relax up front. id agree with the rest though, buy what fits your needs when your out in it. and the first time you go out tandem make sure the water is warm incase you roll over. 2 people takes some getting used to especially if their a wiggle worm.

The Jackson Cudas (I have a 12) have a rear seating option where the Elite Seat fits in the tankwell to open up the cockpit for standing; that would leave plenty of space in the middle for a kid to sit. You could also purchase a second seat and put one in each position and even have the middle seat facing backwards. Of course the weight capacity is less than the Big Tuna (350 & 400 lbs.) so that's a consideration as well.

A Canoe is a good option as well for rivers and creeks IMO.


We used the fish n dive for a while (Sharkanator and his youngest)




Playing/Cruisin in the surf in the OK Drifter (NO TACKLE, Just fun on a low surf evening)


Today my son (now 6yrs old & approx 50lbs) likes to ride up front on the x-factor


You need AT LEAST 150-200lbs extra weight capacity to ride safely together IMO.
In the fishndive and xfactor we have around 300lbs without gear.
Always wear your vest & always make sure they are wearing theirs. All of these yaks
have a 500lbs or better weight capacity and all these waters were ideal the day these pics were
taken. Please be careful yall.
Most importantly, have lots of fun with them because they grow up WAY TOO FAST!!!

I have the Ascend FS12T from Bass Pro (I realize not a model you're looking at) but I've taken each if my two boys (9 & 4) in it and they rode in the back. My 4 year old was actually the first out of all if is to catch a fish from a kayak.

Not sure why some photos rotate sideways.

Big Tuna. Easy for me to say since it is my first kayak and do not know any better but I am also big and I love having camping gear and extra food/water if something should happen. Its a tandem of course so safety won't be a factor since you will not have to make shift a second seat. Plus good excercise on those solo days.

nice pics with the kids all! cool to see people out with their lottle people.

I put a pillow in the back of my Pro Angler for my son to sit on.

mine go all the time and I just put a carseat in the yak and they sit in it!