Which kayak for a smaller girl?

My girlfriend is 4'10" and barely 100# (don't tell her I gave her weight ) We will be mainly fishing with some diving out of our kayaks. Any suggestions as to where to start for a good one for her? We will be going to paddlefest...but I would like to have an idea before we get there. 

Get something NARROW and light....either a Scupper Pro or a Cobra Tourer

I am a little bigger than your girlfriend but I found Ocean Kayak's Venus lived up to its promo.  The downside, and they don't claim it is good for ocean fishing, is that it does not track well.  That said, I have taken it fishing on a day that went all lumpy and did fine.  I am seriously looking at the Venus 11.  Need to paddle one.

My main fishing boat is the Prowler 13.  Wet ride but handles very nicely.

Mike, I am not a wide person (6',180) and I have found the Scupper Pro to be fast and easy to fish in, but most importantly for me, light and fast launching from shore and very good in rough conditions.

I am not sure how easy they are to find - I think they are being phased out.  I believe it is one of the most popular boats with divers worldwide.  Huge cult favorite in the dive community.   Scupper Pro and OK's Scrambler XT (smaller and lighter but not as fast/fishing friendly) are very popular with divers.

Paddlefest at Coyote Point in Richmond this weekend - $25 fee and your gf can test as many yaks as she wants after 9am, even fish your own yak in the Saturday derby.

Prowler 13 would seem to be a very good choice.  It feels more stable at first and is still one of the fastest boats out there, though it may not paddle quite as fast as the Scupper Pro.

Recommend to contact jselli on this board if you are interested in Ocean Kayak boats.

If she test paddles a Cobra Tourer and prefers it, contact Sean a.k.a scwafish to see if he can give you the best deal on a Cobra boat.

I'd say - Cobra Tourer or Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 

Mike, see if she can borrow a proper kayak seat from someone when testing, ideally the seat she will end up using.

See if the seat that MolBasser is selling is still available.  Since your gf is not tall, it's shorter height (than some seats) may be a good fit for her.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=5635.new#new

No tax or shipping charge and you could pick it up before paddlefest when you are in his area.

I am a little bigger than your girlfriend but I found Ocean Kayak's Venus lived up to its promo. 

Heck, I'd even paddle the Venus if only it had bigger/better hatches.  Well, that and if it was called something MANLY like "Prowler".  It's actually a decent ride!!!

-Allen

How about a Malibu Pro2 Tandem like the one that Allen paddles!  .........JK

Hey Travis, that was just a loaner boat until I get MY VENUS in. 

Now I have that stupid song in my head ..

A goddess on a mountain top
Was burning like a silver flame
The summit of beauty and love
And Venus was her name

She's got it
Yeh baby she's got it
Well, I'm your Venus
I'm your fire
At you desire
Well, I'm your Venus
I'm your fire
At your desire

-Allen

You all have been most helpful!! Thank you all so much. My gf is getting excited to go to paddlefest(as am I). We are both looking to get into this sport. I can't wait to go fishing, ab diving, spearfishing....

Yeah, Alan.  What was OK thinking?  Even I am put off by their promoting their small boats as boats for women.......aren't they just boats for small people?.........

Yeah, Alan.  What was OK thinking?  Even I am put off by their promoting their small boats as boats for women.......aren't they just boats for small people?.........

I personally don't think it's a bad thing as OK has other boats in this class in their lineup.  Lot's of outdoor gear these days is targetted specifically at the needs of women.  BTW, one percent of the Venus's gross sales is donated to the Breast Cancer Fund.

The point I was trying to make was that it is a pretty good ride.  Heck, I'm comfortable in my masculinity, if I can get a hold on one, I'll paddle it in the Paddlefest tourney!!!   

-Allen

Some random musings:

I really do like the Prowler 13, but I'd feel most comfortable with it in freshwater and mellow saltwater.

If you are going to be assisting your GF with moving the boat around, or just taking care of that altogether, then having a very lightweight boat may not be the most important consideration. But because your girlfriend is always going to be paddling the kayak, having an efficient boat is likely to be very important.

Someone the size of your girlfriend is going to feel stable in a hull that most guys would consider "tippy". Case in point - I used to own a Looksha II. A 20' long by 20" wide SIK. EVERY single guy that paddled it, went over. Some just took a bit longer than others, but the times ranged from 2 seconds to about 15 minutes. An inexperienced woman about your wifes height, but about 10 pounds heavier paddled it for hours, no problem. My wife is the same weight as your GF, but 5'2", and paddles a 17' long by 22"  wide SIK and absolutely loves it. She too was able to handle the LookshaII, but had spent a lot of time in other boats previously.

For these reasons, depending on your intended locations of use, I'd recommend the P13, Cobra Tourer, and Scupper Pro. With the nod going to the P13 for inland/bay/mellow ocean usage and the SP to be able to paddle anywhere in conditions that are fishable.

[added]  I've also been hearing very good things about the Cobra Maurader. Again, going by my belief that it is more important how the boat feels on the water, vs overall weight, this might be another boat to try out. But this is pure speculation on my part, as I only know of this boats performance second hand.

Regards,
Scott

I really do like the Prowler 13, but I'd feel most comfortable with it in freshwater and mellow saltwater.

With the nod going to the P13 for inland/bay/mellow ocean usage and the SP to be able to paddle anywhere in conditions that are fishable.

I don't agree with this impression of the P13.  I think it can handle any fishable conditions we get around here.  Granted I haven't paddled it much, but after the short time I did in Ketchikan, I felt evey bit as comfortable in it as I do in my P15.  It's slightly slower and a bit more stable IMO, but every bit as seaworthy.

-Allen

I think she should try the Scupper Pro as well as the P13.

The P13 will feel more stable at first, but as she doesn't have a great wingspan, the narrower Scupper Pro might be better for her functionally... I think this was Sean's (scwafish) point.
 
Additionally, Scupper Pro is extremely seaworthy as Scott said, also a bit lighter and quite fast as well (good for keeping pace if she lacks your, uhm, paddle power), and if she has any natural sense of balance (can she dance?) due to her light weight she should find it plenty stable.

Here is a thread from a paddling forum I found helpful, in which some people have compared the two:
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=181

Several folks told me that I'd feel that the Scupper Pro was soooo tippy...  Really, I have had no problems with it that way at all.  I felt very secure in the rough Elk waters and also in the HMB tourney which was also choppy and swelly.  Launches fast too, with quick pickup (since I launch from surf almost always, I wouldn't trade that attribute for any other). 

Since your gf sits lower in the water and is lighter, she should find the Scupper Pro secure.  Plus, it has a narrower seatwell, which should be good for her.

But the P13 comes close to the Scupper Pro in most of those ways, and I believe is also nicely fishable in most any conditions as Allen says.  If you don't plan to surf launch a lot, paddle far, or dive/fish in bigger swells, it would be an equally good choice I think.

When comparing any yaks, she might do well to note differences in:
- pickup from stopped to full speed
- ease of paddle strokes
- glide
- fit in cockpit/seat
- ease of moving around (sitting sideways) (make sure she has lifejacket on!)
- ease to reach usable forward areas of console
- anticipated ease of rigging/stowage of gear/tanks

Would also recommend comparing Scrambler XT, if diving more than fishing, and paddling shorter distances.

Let us know how it turns out Mike!  If she likes either Ocean Kayak boat, I would recommend she contact jselli on this board for assistance finding a good deal.  He did for me.  Also, brighter colors are more visible in the water - good safety consideration especially given her stature.