I'm a former professional kayaker who's owned several sit-on-top kayaks and they do NOT take on water and sink down like the kayak in the photo if they capsize. The problem, as I see it, had nothing to do with capsizing and everything to do with a hole in the kayak's hull. Also, climbing back onto an undamaged sit-on-top does not require great skill----I've done in rough water to show others how to do it.