The vessel was "unsinkable". That in itself was probably the driving force in confidence building and taking on the challenge. Regardless, an unsinkable vessel handles no better in a rough sea or in a broaching condition then any other vessel. It simply stays bouyant even if filled with water or flipped over.
In college we used 13-foot Boston Whaler's to collect specimens in the inlet and the ICW and we knew the Whaler was "unsinkable". That lended to being a tad more adventurous and daring even though if you fell off you would land most of the time on your feet on the muddy bottom!!
I can understand that thinking they were "unsinkable" led to the offshore adventure even more, BUT they ventured out way too far and in harms way.
What bothers me more is that they went way too far with only one engine and no kicker as a spare, which is a necessary item for any true offshore fisherman who knows that the reserve power might be a life saver if needed.
In this case it was a very unforgiving sea that overwhelmed them. Sad indeed.
