Are you familiar with the water? It is typically like glass over here. Personally I wouldn’t go that far with that type of boat but people do it all the time. The Everglade boat is similar to a Boston Whaler by design - foam infused hull which makes them virtually unsinkable so people don’t worry about “sinking” however capsizing is a totally different issue. It gives people a false sense of security.
Remember 30 miles out sounds like a far distance however when you think that is less than a 90 minute trip...you think you have all the time in world.
The boat design overall is excellent. Take a look up in New England at boats like the Crosby Striper - down east hull, 21 feet used to fish in some of the roughest waters off Nantucket. Boat is slow but can handle most things the sea can throw at it.
They also could have been hit by a rogue wave before the front hit. If you are not aware of the danger of rogue waves you wouldn’t be on the lookout for them.
Whenever you anchor in open sea someone must always be on watch.
Actually, not so much. I'm just not an ocean kind of guy. I generally try to stay away from places where I'm not at the top of the food chain. I think in the ocean, if you stop moving long enough even the little fish feed on you.
BTW, I took my wife out on Monterey Bay in a nice big Boston Whaler about 27 years ago. I figured "How hard can it be if the Squids can do it"? Then the tide came up, and brought in some (seemingly) big swells, and while I'm sure now that it was no big deal, at the time I was certain we were going to die.
I'm admittedly not a boat guy. Still, 21' seems a bit small. I think I'd rather select a boat that would withstand atypical non-glass smooth water than assume it's typically like glass. I don't care if my boat is unsinkable - I'm not.
I walked around on the Midway once and had the sense that even as big as it is, it's still just a hole in the water. I guess that's why, when all my friends joined the Navy, I joined the Army. I'm fine in the forest/desert/city with a gun, but out on the water..........