[StriperSniper]

Winds blew from the northwest at 15 knots, or 11 to 12 mph, and waves were at about 8 feet -- not particularly severe conditions for the often wild Pacific Coast.

Well first, 15 knots is 17.26 MPH, knots are 'bigger' not 'smaller' (by 1.15 aprox.).

Second, 8 footers in a 20 foot boat is about the safty limit in most cases. Unless those waves were really long rollers it would be awful hard to fish when most of the time would be spent holding on.

[leadpenny]

. . . most of the time would be spent holding on.

Or, in my case, throwing up.

Seriously, this is a tragic loss of three of America's finest. . . .A 1SGT and two SFC's. Probably in their mid- to late 30's, married, and with children.

[dix]

I have a 23 foot deep v hull, and I have gone as far as fifty miles offshore out of Galveston. That wind speed might be OK, but 8 foot seas in the open ocean? Maybe I'm a wuss, but that's not very smart. No radio. I won't even comment on that.