I was T-Boned by a 31' cabin cruiser while racing in a local race. I have never been the same since.

I never saw the power boat coming, I was sailing a H-20 on port tack, my 14 yeare old son on the wire, me still on the hull when we were plowed through the center, TBONED!
I bounced off the port hull of the offending craft as the mast drug my son under water with all of the trapeze hardware.
I popped up immediatly after the collision because I was not hooked up but I waited at least 10 seconds for my son to come to the surface (it was more like a lifetime).
When he came up, he popped at least a foot out of the water because of the PFD. He told me that he had to unhook under water because the mast was holding him down.(I can cry just thinking about this) This was the longest 10 seconds of my life, my mind was nutz.

My POV after that event is, DON'T SCREW AROUND, PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR CREW!!! COMFORT IS A FAR SECOND!!!

It doesn't matter what type of boating you do.. Invest in the best, it will serve you and you might live to tell about it.