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Every day there are hundreds of kids that go down the Nantahala River in IKs of various makes and models. They can even rent from us. The only criteria we really have is that they are at least 60 pounds and their parents and/or other responsible adult goes with them. They can even guide their own raft if they want to as long as their parents and/or responsible adult goes with them.
Every day hundreds of kids go down the Nanty with other companies in the same craft and go down privately in their own boats--some don't look like they're much more than a KMART or Walmart special, and for the most part the kids do just fine.
Kids do just fine as long as they have some experience or there are guides or responsible adults that can teach kids paddling basics and show them the proper lines.
This being said, I have yet to see a dog go down the Nanty, and I wouldn't want to add a dog to the mix. Dogs often get their own ideas about what they want to and do not want to do; and I wouldn't trust a 9 year old to make the right choices and being able to focus on boat control when Fluffy gets ideas of her own. Many people (kids and adults) have drowned in whitewater rivers jumping in after pets even when the pet was better suited than they were to make it out just fine.
There are places on all rivers, especially the Nantahala, that any boater can get into trouble in--including experienced kayakers and raft guides. I have seen everyone from young children to adults get stuck on rocks--even former Olympic paddlers--and I've seen a lot of people make poor line choices or react too late and end up doing very hazardous things like crashing into Jaws on Patton's Run, hitting Turtle Rock (undercut) broadside, getting stuck on Delebar's, running over the Bump and swimming, etc, etc, etc.
If a couple hundred dollars is your budget for a raft that will contain your nine year old and your dogs, I ask you: would you drive your Hummer on a set of $7.99 tires?
Assuming that your nine year old is a competent boater with his or her head on straight ( and this is very possible--consider Dane Jackson ) at the very least you need a raft that will be able to stand up to scraping over and colliding with rocks and Fluffy's scratching or chewing... Don't trust a K-Mart Special to do that. Don't trust a Coleman Raft to do that. Don't trust any raft that's designed for a pool or a lake or to be used as a beach toy to do that. And don't purchase a used raft for that price either. Any raft you might buy for only a couple hundred dollars is likely to be worn and in poor condition and not able to withstand the rigors of a natural river, let alone a whitewater river with very real hazards.
Best case--a responsible adult will be in the raft with the child and to bail him or her out if necessary, and the raft will be made from one of the standard manufacturers. Used rafts are fine, as long as they are purchased from a reputable source and are in good repair. Again, for $200 this is unlikely. Or better yet, come to the Nantahala, leave your dog at home or in the RV, and rent one of the well-maintained Hysides in our fleet, and join your nine-year old in the raft or rent him an IK to join you as you paddle down the river.
Cheers!
Matt Urdan
Nantahala Outdoor Center
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Feedback for waters like the Nanty.... New 
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