Helping a Friend Decide

So, I took a buddy and his wife out kayaking yesterday floating the SA river south of San Antonio. I think they decided they like it though neither of them are interested in dropping a lot of money on a Yac. With that being said, his wife is looking at kayaks. I prefer a sit on top/hybrid canoe kayak. She is thinking about a sit inside because if their 5yr old daughter ever would go she thinks it would hold her better. What are yalls thoughts? A sit inside that might contain the kiddo better or a sit on top that wont sink or fill up with water as easily? If a sit inside, is there one with foam on the inside so that even if it fills up, it still wont technically sink? Thanks for yalls advice!!!

Wife has a SINK, I have a SOT. I despise her SINK - very uncomfortable (for me and my sons, she likes it) and feels a lot less stable than my yak. SINKs are also harder to get back into if you turtle and you will have the water weight to deal with. There are hybrid-types she may want to look at as well.

I have a Viking Profish Reload SOT and a Native Ultimate Tandem 14.5 SINK. Both are crazy stable and comfortable and I've never flipped in 8 years of kayaking. The wife should get what she is comfortable paddling.The Native works great as a single but has plenty of room for a kid. The photos are me and my granddaughter in the Native, she's 9 years-old in the top photo and 14 years-old in the lower photo, and with plenty of room.

I agree with TG, let her decide what she likes best. On the other hand you take what you can find in the way a used kayak if you want more bang for your buck.

Here's one that will be hard to beat for the money... San Antonio Craigs list... $200 sit on top... I wouldn't get the stadium seat for someone just starting out.

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/boa/d/sabinal-pelican-apex-ii-130t-tandem/7110417178.html

I have lots of time on the water both as the new small kid and as the adult taking my own. I have always made it a point to first introduce small children by taking them just a little offshore and jumping out to swim and play. This helps by getting them fimilar with the water, understanding flipping is really no big deal. This also lets them learn deep water reentry. Cannon balls off the kayak with kids is a ton of fun. I started as a baby in a canoe way up in lake superior, that isnt water you wanna swim in in august. Its cold. My son started in a canoe also, just here in texas. Just as a tag along not a paddler. We tossed him in the water all the time. It was very difficult for him to climb in the canoe with the high sides. For this reason we moved to sit on top kayaks. It was very easy for him to climb back on. One of my favorite kid kayaks is the ocean kayak scrambler, or speck. They are full size kayaks but very light weight and easy for kids to handle on their own. My son paddled one from about 4 to, well we still have it. He is 14 now. There are many good options for kids. My only advise is not to try and keep kids out and away from the water, but to let them play in it so if they ever flip, fall out or anything they understand its no big deal and arent scared. My son has had the ok speck, and now has the viking gt. As for the 2 adult friends lots of boats will suit them as long as they demo and find a good budget.

This was my son around 4 or 5

OP they may not ever flip but everyone should prepare to do so at some point. As Christian pointed out a SOT is much better and safer in this regard.

I have a Viking kayak for sale that would be a good fit for them. The daughter could sit either in the back or straddle the console. Super stable. I'll be headed to San Antonio tomorrow afternoon.

https://austin.craigslist.org/boa/d/elgin-viking-profish-400-fishing-kayak/7110752720.html

Be sure to factor in the weight of the wife + kid + gear when they get a kayak, they want the right weight capacity.

This is a killer kayak!!! For young children it may be a bit wide but anyone else can boogy in this yak. Light as a feather too.

I agree it's by far my favorite kayak. At this point in my life my issues with my tendonitis elbow are keeping me from using it. Last time I had it out my elbow went out on me paddling back to the truck in a 20 mph and a ripping current. Luckily the water was wadable but I was sinking almost to my knees in mud. That was the second time this happened. So for now it's on to a different kayak. I hope at some point I'll be back in another Viking 400 soon.