I like to experiment, and enjoy the thought of doing something different doesn't frighten me. I hve PFD's for the kids, and will progress in stages.

Take a look at the picture below. It looks like and eight man kayak. If nobody tries new ideas, then we all miss out on potential innovations. Besides, I refuse to believe that a kayak can't be made to have fun in with the expectation that you may get wet. Rehearsing scenarios and staying within certain limits (e.g. close to shore, warm water) can make the risks quite minimal. If I wanted absolute safety I wouldn't even drive to the shore in the first place.

Well, here we go again with the "Absolute safety, yadda yadda..." stuff again. Some parents won't let their kids ride dirt bikes. Mine were like that. I missed out on alot of life in order to eliminate risks. I'd like my kids to get close to the water, like I did. My parents couldn't keep me from surfing, and I'm glad I took that risk as a kid!

> This is a far cry from a squirt boat! Kayaks are great boats,
> and readers of this board obviously love them. However, I don't think
> that the kayak form is appropriate for every use. Two adults, two
> kids, a dog and a picnic, on still water, would appear to call for
> something closer to a "traditional" rowboat such as a skiff,
> dory or a wherry. (I don't know enough about small crafts to distinguish
> dories and wherrys or skiffs for that matter. Perhaps others can fill
> in the differences.) I think even the Inuits probably used an umiak
> when the passenger/cargo requirements exceeded the capability of a
> kayak. I would particularly want a wide stable boat when the dog starts
> licking the picnic remains off the kids faces. You can always take
> the low volume kayak along as a play boat! Mark--I will let you put
> in the links to Pygmy or CLC's rowboat designs.