When I was young I had 13'3" Boston Whaler with 40 HP Johnson and two 6 gal red fuel tanks. Family had 38' raised deck, SD hull, single 180 hp. Perkins powered fly bridge sedan cruiser. We boated on weekends year after year... spring, summer fall. Took long jaunts up New England coast during dad's four week vacations. All year I kept the Whaler in water and used her often in the winter too. 38'er was hauled for bottom paint etc during winter months.
Some times on jaunts from NY to Maine and back again we towed the Whaler. Often I'd simply take off and meet our family cruiser in the next port. Some times on lesser duration distance cruises we'd leave the Whaler at dock.
More than a few times we'd get caught in some pretty snotty conditions. Have seen conditions that tested my dad's handling abilities and the 38' cruiser's capabilities. There was one time I was not aboard that really rattled my dad, mom and younger brother. Afterward mom forced sale of the cruiser "Never to go out again with dad" - It was beyond severe unexpected conditions... my brother was 14 yrs at the time and has become pale when recounting to me what occurred. Boat needed immediate hauling and bottom plank repairs at Block Island. Boat was bujilt to take anything... dad ran into something unexpected that nearly sunk that stout craft. Dad sometimes pushed things to the limit - remnants of his love for daring activities gained from piloting RCAF Spitfire reconnaissance planes in WWII - Shat happens!
With the Whaler, employing cues from dad's daring nature, I would go out Short Beach Inlet in mid winter storms. Have been in some really hairy wave conditions. My youth [that still has close semblances continuing today at... 66 yrs young] had a strong sense of no matter what I can do it! So far, I'm not dead!!
Sooo... reason I related the above to contents in this thread: Every type of sea. Every type of boat. And, every type of a boat's Captain experience then and there interacting degrees of capabilities.
I can say - having owned and piloted many different size and type boats, as well as being aboard many boats with good captains - Short of tall "surfer-type" heavily breaking waves... That 13.3" Whaler with 40 hp Johnson, leaving rear scupper drain open and full weather gear on as well as gas tanks battened down tightly is the boat that can handle nearly sea thrown at it. I have even broken upward through some not too tall breakers off Jones Beach during storms; that use-type is not recommended... but in my teens with courage burning brightly that is an incorrect chance I took.
Happy Boat-Handling Daze - Art