I second this recommendation. The Tern 14 is a nice boat for a kid to grow into (and it happens fast). I built one three years back so that my wife or kids could come out and paddle with me. My daughter (now 12) has been paddling it regularly for two years. She is really comfortable in it (so far she's only been in flat water) and can easily keep up with me. It's really stable for her 85 lbs. I also think it is a versatile choice. I'm 5'8" and 160 lbs and it is the boat I choose to ride out in Monterey Bay - relatively easy to maneuver and smooth in the swells.

Al

: I was thinking the Pygmy Tern 14 might work. Although it was originally
: designed for a full-size adult and a Tsunami Ranger to boot, it seems to
: be adaptable to all kinds of paddlers. I think my son was about the size
: of yours when we did his. Launched in 2000, when he was 10, and still
: going strong now that he's all grown up at 18. You could ballast it, too.
: I saw Joe Greenley in 2004, and he said he was designing hybrid versions
: for Pygmy. Don't know what became of that, but any Pygmy with a strip deck
: w/b a sweet boat.

: My 2c.

: --Scott