[Bushwacker]

Mitch - glad to hear you guys survived OK! As others have said, someone was looking out for you, with a radio popping to the surface, which then quit as soon as you were picked up!! How lucky is that?!!

I'm sure it was hard to do, but THANKS for sharing your story - it might save someone's life someday! BOAT/US publishes a lot of similar info in their Seaworthy magazine. I recently ordered a book from them containing 10 years of back issues; tons of useful info in it that I'm still wading thru!

One question, given the 20/20 hindsight and wisdom you now have . . . would a 25" transom or a full height splashwell have made any difference in preventing swamping when you hit the gas? One friend of mine, in response to a question about what he'd do if he ever took a big wave over the transom, said he figured the water could go out the same way it came in, i.e. over the low transom cutout, when he nailed the throttle . . . maybe that would work if the bilge were dry, but I'm not so sure about that now!! Seems like bailing might be a better option!