-- Last Updated: Dec-08-12 4:17 PM EST --
If you are comfortable swimming around for 15 minutes
in what you are wearing - with a PFD on hopefully -
then you are slightly protected from the elements.
The important thing is ACTUALLY going for a swim
- leave the boat home, bring towels and dry clothes instead.
Run the experiment for yourself, you call the shots,
you dress how you want, you analyze the results.
The mammalian "gasp reflex" is a dooosey and often
people suck in some water involuntarily - gasping for air.
At 25 inches wide - that a LOT of surface area
for a wave to pound upon flipping you over.
At 14ft its a bobber; going up-and-over waves;
potentially pearling the nose, or pitch poling.