Is he able to chose well? It's his first plane, so I'm assuming he can't, so I would say a specific recommendation is what was wanted and needed. I agree bigger is better, the LT-40 is as big or bigger than most of all the .60 size trainers, it's just lighter and flys better.

I instruct a lot, I finally told guys if you want me to instruct you get a LT-40, make it a taildragger, or there's lots of other instructors to teach you. I have lots of guys that get the LT-40.

The problem with the list is a newbee will take it to his LHS and find one of the that's on the list. The LHS will tell him yep that's the best one, and I have it in stock. Well there's only one best one, but a hundred on the list.

CGRetired

Here's a list:
Boat/US
West Marine
Boaters World
Solaris

Let the newbee pick your liferaft's flares. Hey, he's got a list.