Some boats have a reputation for being sea worthy. Grady drives this home in all their marketing about how tough, safe, superbly engineered their boats are. I think it can build in a false sense of security and some folks push their limits relying on the boat rather than their good sense and seamanship skills and limits. When I was new to boating I honestly felt a sense invincibility because I had a Grady White and it was solid boat. Over time my skills increased and my judgement is more attuned as well.
Often on the internet folks will ask a question like I have done about running to the Dry Tortugas and the answers come back like your boat is too small and all this other advice which has nothing to do with the original question. So I am loathed to comment on things like that.
With that said, I will lend an observation. I would rather forego a day of fishing to be safe than test my boat and my own mental limitations. I trust my boat and I know my limits of comfort. Every captain must do the same. Many boats can handle a lot if the skipper's seamanship is top notch.
I am glad you are safe and that 225 can handle a lot. If it were me and the NOAA issued a small craft advisory, I would likely have stayed in port and if the small craft warning was up, no way do I venture out of port, but that is me. In the end it is your boat, your experiences and comfort level to decide what is best for you and your crew.
It is a double edged sword when it comes to calls like this. How does one develop skills to handle crappy seas and foul weather if you never venture into it? How do you get the feel of the boat in bigger seas if you never take the boat in them? I suspect you learned a bit how the 225 handles in those conditions and perhaps you are an old salt and this was " nothing but a thang" to you as well.
