Boat size is all a matter of perspective and bigger boats don't always offer more safety. I've fished miles out to sea in a 14 ft aluminum boat with two people in it and never had a problem, and I've had my 28 ft Wellcraft sportfisher die and need to be towed back by the coast guard at night. The biggest problem with a small boat is being able to carry enough gas for a long trip and carrying enough safety equipment for the number of passengers without overloading it. The ocean can be a scary place and I never go out without getting the wind/weather forecast before I leave, and even then things can get dicey if an unexpected wind comes out of the wrong direction and kicks up the white caps. The biggest problem where I live in northern California is the water temperature. If for some reason you wind up in the water and can't get back in the boat, you'll be dead from hypothermia within an hour or two because the water temp is between 55 and 60 degrees F year round. I learned that first-hand when I was 18 years old and I was sailing a 17 ft Laser under the Golden Gate bridge and it flipped and I wasn't wearing a wet suit. It was so cold I didn't have enough strength to pull my body weight onto the boat to flip it back over. Eventually I managed to do it but not before drifting almost 2 miles out. Cold water is a killer.