re: Missing Florida boys' boat found capsized

Dude, no offense but you're seeing things wrong.

For one, none of us know where they were headed or thinking for certain.

Next, EPIRB is not the guarantee people think it is and it is usually overkill for a boat normally confined to distances from shore that are normally covered by VHF and cell phones. EPIRB's are not always the godsend some are making them out to be. They are definitely a benefit and add an extra level of safety but the boat must go down or the trigger pulled for them to broadcast, the EPIRB needs to remain in a position that will allow rescuers to receive the signal, rescuers need to know what signal that particular device is emitting, and you need to be able to stay with the signal for it to be effective(I haven't been in the market for EPIRB's lately so I may be a little off here but it's mostly accurate from the technology I've known).

If one is caught in a storm, offshore, there's usually an urge to think you can scoot around it. Their phones' could show radar and give them a false sense of bravado, something similar has happened to even the most experienced saltwater angler.

Finally, why would anyone assume they had the choice of staying with a capsized boat? It fricking capsized, do you think it did so under pleasant circumstances? We should be shocked they haven't been found sitting on the boat sipping drinks with their Yeti ice and paper umbrellas according to the logic of many...

Bottom line, these kids probably were in the midst of doing something their parents wouldn't approve of and they knew what they were doing was risky but they were going nonetheless. They seem likely guilty of bad decision making but without knowing what happened, no one knows for sure. If you never did something similar on your bike with your friends, you're either a liar or a pussy. Everyone complains kids are spending too much time with computers, video games, etc. and it seems these kids took it too far. The stakes are higher when boats and saltwater are concerned but don't pretend to know what happened or judge anyone without knowing what happened.

Crucify me if you will, I don't care, I'm just hoping these kids are found with a huge, huge lesson learned. The sea is fun, fishing is fun, proving to your Dad you can fish without him is fun, knowing he'd respect you more by throwing caution to the wind takes maturity.