Re: [Paddlewise] Unintentional Deception

> Last night I received the REI Holiday 99 gift preview catalog.  On page
90,
> selling for only $380, is a bright red Perception Swify recreational kayak
> [9'5" x 29"] with its bow overlaying a stunning photo of 2 sea kayakers
> paddling along an exposed coast in tropical-looking, turquoise water.
Both
> these kayakers are clearly paddling full size sea kayaks.  The rest of the
> page has water sports related gear (dry bags, deck bag, weather radio . .

A couple of summers ago L.L. Bean did something similar on one of the covers
of their summer catalogs.  They showed two people heading out to what
appeared to be an island off the coast of Maine with wide open ocean in the
background.  The only trouble(IMHO)was the two were paddling two of Beans'
rec boats(something like Acadias, if I remember correctly).  I agree that it
is misleading to those new to the sport.  Could also be dangerous to those
that buy similar boats and assume they can "just paddle out to the island",
just like in the picture on the catalog.
It's probably a dilemma.  The big stores seem to be selling lots of these
rec boats and they want to make them look as enticing and fun as possible.
Unfortunately, the implication of pictures such as these is that these boats
can safely do more than the design intended.
Dennis

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