Emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRBs) use satellite communications. The Coast Guard would know exactly where you were in about 4 minutes.
The water in the gulf is 68 degrees right now. It generally doesn’t get below 60 in winter. In the summer it can get to high 80s.
Because of the high number of pleasure boaters with little experience there are a lot of people that get into trouble.
One guy had 11 people on a 12 foot boat. From 5 months to 68 years. They stayed offshore too long and were swamped by a storm. Luckily they were only a few miles offshore and the water was warm.
Yep ERIB thingys is what our guys use up here if they are taking all safety precautions.
It is usually the crossing bar that sinks em up here.