There is no substitute for education, either the United States Power Squadrons or the Goast Guard Auxilliary have educational courses that help boaters with weather, boat handling and safety procedures ---any of which would have helped in this situation. I boat and fish on Lake Erie that has a reputation for going from a 6" chop to 6' seas in a matter of minutes. It is important to know the weather BEFORE you leave the dock and sometimes it's smarter to have a couple beers at the marina rather than go out and face the weather. Ive done both from time to time and was in a position to cut an anchor rode a few years ago.