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I've talked to folks who have crossed using only a 12 ft inflatable dingy (not recommended); folks who used a couple of sea kayaks (not recommended) and folks who used a 16 ft Hobie (also not recommended).
I myself have used a 15 ft Freestyle 747 beach cat for sailing to islands off the coast of southern Calif.
On the Sea of Cortez I use a 27 ft Stiletto Catamaran.
What I am suggesting is sometimes it may not be what you sail but how and when ...and what prep and so on you may have taken to help ensure you have a good trip.
Weather is the biggest thing. Then there's competency and experience. Then there's the boat and its sea worthiness and what contingencies you build in to the trip.
Buddy boating helps ensure there's help near by, though at night or under stressed conditions, the other boat or boats may also have their own hands full.
Do some searching on this site for some past written account of crossings.
You'll find a fairly mixed bag.
On one of my last trips, we waited it out for improved conditions.
A very large monohull limped back with a snapped mast and it looked pretty beat up.
I've crossed a number of times and found the trips ranked from enjoyable to exillerating to taxing.
If you asked my wife, she'd say a one trip was very pleasant and the other one she came on she'd say she thought we were going to die.
However, she's a bit emotional sometimes.
She hated the sailing after dark, which I found awesome.
She hated it and misunderstood when I had everyone on deck secure a PFD on themselves and tether in, just a captain mandated precaution from having someone inadvertently become a man-over-board drill in a dark sea under a very dark and cloudy sky. She also misunderstood when I handed out some chem sticks and whistles to secure to the PFDs, as the seas kicked up a bit.
I was having a great night sail and the Stiletto Catamaran running very well while showing 18 mph on the GPS as I made my way to tuck in behind an off shore island until sun up....
As I slowed the boat to park it under helm, I noticed my wife wasn't saying much so I asked.
Her resolute reply was, "If we're going to die, I want to die together."
That response really showed I'd not prep'd her near as well as I had the boat and it also showed how poorly I had communicated.
The good news was the boat was singing and the seas were great for the boat I was on....though it wasn't good news, I hadn't noticed but she was so scared she didn't even consider throwing me overboard becasseu she didn't think she could handle the boat.
Offered with a bit of author's license, it seems she watched films like White Squall as a training films while I watched them as entertainment.
Boy were we on two different trips ...on that part of that trip...
As the seas calmed and the sun came up, she too returned to enjoying the beauities of the area and we both had a rather great "rest of the trip" and many since.
If you want more info, ask and I'll scrounge up some link info that covers lots of prep and tips.
Also, share what you find along the way while you prep. Also share how it went after the trip so we may all benefit from your experience(s) as we prep for our next trip(s).
That the beauty of this kind of web site.
Tom
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crossing the sea of cortez -- Jeffrey Mark Kallam -- 3/18/08 9:22a.m.
crossing sea of cortez 
-- Don Parsons -- 3/19/08 12:02a.m.
People cross in dingies, but.... -- thouse -- 3/19/08 7:19a.m.