Lugging a big hunk of plastic around to take your kid out will be forgotten in the long run...and well worth your endeavor.
Trust me on this one...make sure he has his vest on, plenty of drinks and snacks for him, hook and hand if ya need to, and you will be well on your way...if he's got the itch to go out, it is your job to make it a most pleasurable experience for him...
Good luck...some motivation for ya...when he was 6....
And he still digs it...3 years later...