We have done the canoe when my first one was 2.5 year old. It's ok to do rivers Class I and II but on lakes when the wind picks up a canoe is out of control. When my son reached 4 years of age he was too big for the canoe and kept moving too much for us to control the craft safely. I'm now thinking of building the Wineglass wherry as a transportation for the youngest while the older son and wife could tag along in their kayaks. We're talking lakes right now.

: I haven't read this whole thread, so someone else may have already brought up
: these thoughts--Paul is on to something about the safety issues of two
: adults in a triple with the 3-year-old in the middle where neither adult
: can reach. Since you're not contemplating rough water travel, what about a
: canoe? Add a smaller single kayak for your wife. Let the 9-year-old grow
: into the small single. In 3-4 years trade the canoe for a 3-cockpit kayak.
: When the youngest can handle the small single, add a full-sized single for
: either wife/eldest child.

: You might also want to check with Tamsin Venn at Atlantic Coastal Kayaker
: about kayaking with young children. She's done a lot and has written about
: her trips in the magazine.