Well, I live in the area - and I can tell you first hand that mother nature is not one to mess with. Personally - I have been out 24.8 miles in my 19 foot Pursuit. I only did it on a day that was flat calm - that I teamed up with a buddy boat = - my UHF was tested - my battery was new, my two bilge pumps were new (and tested) my flares and ditch bag were at hand - and the water was a balmy 74 degrees. Funny thing was I saw a dot on the horizon - it was a guy in a 16 foot bassboat - low gunnels - people are crazy.
Even then I watched the weather with intent and took no chances.
These guys were foolish to venture out in such conditions. There was a forecasted strong cold front scheduled to come through - and a 21 foot boat is to small for that far out. Gulf temp is in the low 60's - you can not survive long in the water.
I feel for the families of the missing boaters
