what would be a good kayak for a kid that is 5ft and weighs 80 lbs prefer sit in style and what kind of padells

A little 8-10 foot sink with probably a 200-210 cm paddle would be a good starting point.

I saw some 6FTish SOTs at academy looked pretty funny till i thought about kids. Didnt looks at any stats or anything though. But academy is probally your best bet on a start of your search

I have a 8 foot SOT from Walmart $200 I weigh 230lbs very sturdy as a starter I think it is great.

I have a mainstream 9' SOT that my kids use. I constantly watch craigslist for more of them. You can pick them up for around $200 bucks and they are tuff as nails, track decent, and very very stable.

The thing about kayaks is that they will accommodate a wide range of paddlers. When I had the Cobra Navigator (12'6" long and 31" wide, which has a load capacity of 450 lbs) I let lots of people try it. It handled people up to 270 lbs and people well under 100 lbs. Nobody had any difficulty with it. I know of a small, 13 year old girl that handles a Hobie Revolution (13'5") with ease. Small kayaks track poorly regardless of the size of the paddler. So I would suggest staying away from something small. At his size I would not recommend anything under 10'.

And let me make one other suggestion. He thinks he wants a SINK. An SOT would be safer and give more utility. SOTs are easier to fish out of. SINKs you roll, SOTs you fall out of. An 80 lber would have difficulty rolling anything, and SOTs are easier to reenter.
If you have the funds, look at the Ascend FS12T or slightly better yet the OK Scrambler XT. These are full size (12') kayaks but I can assure you he will not have any difficulty handling either of them.

http://www.basspro.com/Ascend-FS12T-Sit-On-Top-Angler-Kayak/product/10213830/-1681287

http://www.basspro.com/Ocean-Kayak-Scrambler-XT-Angler-Edition-Kayak/product/73731/-1221254

As far as a paddle goes if you can't afford anything better, just get the lightest paddle that seems to fit him the best of what is available. On the other hand if you can afford something better, there are a lot better choices out there. Austin Canoe and Kayak has a kids paddle that looks pretty good at 30 oz and 200 CM.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/1460/Werner-Sprite-Kids-Paddle.html

Paddle weight is an important factor in selecting a paddle for someone small, to prevent paddle fatigue.

You are also going to need to get him a PFD that he can wear all of the time, it is legal requirement for under 13 year olds. And add a whistle also required.

I just read your avatar. A cabinetmaker might build a 3 panel Gerald boat like the River Ranger (12', 14' or 16'). These are open cockpit boats that have great speed and handling as well as being nice to look at. Plans are free and it is an easy build. Has the advantages of a SINK without the hazards.

Out of my six kids only one has the strength and paddling experience to effectively paddle my scrambler. They are ages 11 to 7. The rest of them do so much better (paddling longer, manuvering better) on the shorter kayak. RBR is right on about the SOT vs. SIK and about paddle weight.

Hey Linecaster !
Did you buy one of those Mooreas ? I'd like to hear about it cause I bought one too and I like it !

SINK are not really that great for fishing, Safety/Storage/Confidence/Convienence...all point to SOT. Lotsa folk gonna wanna argue this point, they sure pipe down when its time to exit that cockpit onto a steep bank. Or reenter in deep water(without someone being there to hold the boat steady for them). Or when a big wave tuttles them out(Nacona!), a wave that otherwise might have washed thru the scuppers of a SOT. I agree with most everything posted above...just not the SinK. I remember someone asked a question on here about who paddles what style(SOT vs SinK), his answer...turns out he was one of the only ones. SOT are fine for calm ponds and creeks/rivers, but REALLY limit you in open water. I was dumb enough to bet my kid(6) he wouldn't practice if I bought him a castnet(3.5')...now hes throwing "taco-free" an Im on the hook for a small yak.

hop and craigslist and buy a used pelican castaway. small and easy to use. it has a low weight capacity but shouldnt matter with a little kid, plus its all setup for fishing already. I paddle one in the salt and it work good enough to catch fish, just make sure you get a lighter paddle, this damn one that comes with it tires me out, im 6'2" 220lbs.

Glad your you are happy with yours but I have paddled Pelicans and I wouldn't have one if you gave it to me.

Meh, I know its nowhere near as good as the WS 135 Ride I bought. But it still gets the job done and is by far the cheapest yak you will find fishing setup and a SOT. It is way to small for me and I ride low so its a wet and slow ride. But it is functional and stable enough to handle my fat butt in the bay.

I bought one and have used it 3-4 times, I like it as I have not fished from a kayak before but like the idea of being able to get to water and move about freely. Granted it does not track as well as longer boats or move very fast, but on small lakes and ponds which I fish I think I will have fun come Spring.