Safety is a problem with the things they market as a kayak in the states. People hear that kayaks are seaworthy, or expect that they are for who knows what reason, and they buy a piece of junk at the mall that's barely more seaworthy than a pool toy and get into trouble with it. Then they need rescuing, or die, and it's blamed on "kayaking." For every "real" sea kayak I see on top of a car, I see at least 20 pickups with rec boats piled in it. Occasionally these people will take the local ww club's beginner class, and stop going after the second class, when they have to do a wet exit.

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