Emotions usually run high and all over the map when people are rescued...probably the only feeling in common is relief when their feet hit dry land.
Some people are brough together and not sure about the ones who blame others who they thought almost killed them.
Probably survivors guilt mostly, the crew and passengers were split between various time of when they launched the life float. I'm sure it was not a calm scene and it isn't a perfectly clear account for who did what. It is clear apparent to me that the captain failed to provide leadership nor instill confidence in how to proceed.
The captain possibly could have kept the crew dry for longer and reduced exposure, but his poor decision making and leadership up to to this point had eroded any confidence in him.
Only a couple years after the incident, myself and several of our friends began working on Head and Charter fishing boats as mates in Chesapeake Beach, MD, about 50 miles north of where the El Toro sank. For this reason we were especially interested in our friend's horrific experience, he may have shared more with others but I never heard all the details about what happened in the water.
Sorry for the extended topic divergence but for those unfamiliar with these operations, I'll share a few points. The El Toro II was running as a "head boat" where the passengers pay individually and aren't renting out the entire boat. You fend for yourself generally in regard to baiting your hooks and securing a spot to fish.
"Inspected" vessels are subject to additional requirements than uninspected vessels which can only carry 6 passengers or fewer. In addition to recurring CG inspections as the name implies, specific safety features are required of the vessel such as the relative size of freeing ports, seating area, bilge separation, etc. There were older boats grandfathered in which did not meet these requirements. Inspected vessels in inshore waters carry life floats, basically a giant life ring for everyone to hold on to a rope around the perimeter but no where near large enough keep everyone out of the water. There is a net in the middle to hold injured crew. They work in conjunction with life jackets l, keep the crew together and can help you keep your head up but do nothing to keep you dry or warm.
The presence of a life float, held in a self launching cradle is the easiest way to differentiate an inspected vessel from an uninspected vessel among charter fleets (at least for inshore operations).
Head boats are more likely to carry more than one mate, they split tips and frequently make less. They customers generally fend for themselves fishing wise rather than a "charter boat". It is easier for a young mate to get a job on a head boat than a charter boat. My friends all followed this path of head boat to charter boat gigs.