I don't think more hp would've done him any good. When crossing a bar like Westport, it's best to sit and watch the waves for at least fifteen to thirty minutes before attempting to cross. Waves always come in a series. You will have several series of medium waves and then a series of large waves. The problem is the pattern is different from hour to hour depinding on the tide and storm movement. If you watch for the time suggested you can usually get a sense of when your best shot will be and then you get in the trough and stay in it. Bottom Line is the guy was nuts for going out in the first place. It's also good to check with the Coast Guard. They usually have bar warnings posted. Most people get in trouble because they don't want to listen to the Coast Guard.