Missing Tas boy likely drowned: coroner

A missing nine-year-old Tasmanian boy most likely drowned after falling from a stolen kayak, but a coroner has not ruled out foul play in his disappearance.

Craig Ewen Taylor in all probability drowned in waters off Coningham, south of Hobart, on September 3, 1993, coroner Stephen Carey said in a report released on Wednesday.

The Launceston primary school student was on holiday with his family when he went missing.

Craig has never been seen again despite a widespread land and sea search over several days and ongoing police appeals.

A day after his disappearance a nearby resident reported missing a fibreglass kayak.

It was found soon afterwards, upturned and washed onto a beach in the area.

"I am satisfied that it is probable that this kayak overturned, throwing Craig into the water and that he subsequently perished by drowning or hypothermia," Mr Carey found.

However, another witness reports seeing a boy fitting Craig's description standing on the roadside on the day of his disappearance, trying to hitch a ride toward Hobart.

The witness said a white Holden station wagon pulled up next to the boy, but because she was driving in the other direction, she couldn't see if he got in the car.

"The possibility that Craig entered that motor vehicle and subsequently came to harm cannot be excluded and this alternate possibility remains open," Mr Carey said.

However, the lack of information about Craig after his disappearance means it's unlikely he ran away and established himself elsewhere, he added.

There will not be a public inquest into Craig's death, with Mr Carey finding such an investigation is unlikely to uncover any further information.