2009 “Pink Pearl” Coos 8 SOF

Summer 2010: Danielle paddling her "Pink Pearl."

The “Pink Pearl” was built as a Christmas present for youngest daughter, Danielle, when she was about two years old. The name is a spin on that fact that a few years back we built three BTD Black Pearls. So why not a “Pink” Pearl? My wife picked out the fabric. What would be better for a girl’s kayak than pink, sparkly fabric with smiling skulls with bows?!

The Coos 8 is designed to introduce young children to kayaking. It’s short and wide with plenty of stability. It’s designed for paddlers as young as two years old (with supervision and outriggers) and can handle children that weight up to about 50 pounds.

It’s covered in 18 mil clear PVC and clear-coated Wally-world fabric. Nothing fancy. On Lena’s I made the floor of the cockpit out 1/4″ plywood. For Danielle’s I used some 1/8″ clear polycarbonate. It works great. Fully outfitted it weighed in at only 9 pounds. Danielle inherited Lena’s old Greenland paddle and the outriggers.