let me tell about a small boat adventure.....
we lanched a 10' livingston from brown's point, it's across the water on the tacoma side from where you are talking about, after work(3rd shifters) one morning in december.well the fishing was slow, the sun was warm and we both woke up on top of a 3-4 foot wave looking up at the tacoma narrows bridge. it was a long run back home we had to stop for gas at the marine. but we survied.

we took that boat out in all kinds of weather and once in a while we needed to bail it out but we had a lot of fun. our ruffest day was at point no point in 35 knot winds. the best part of a small boat is if it gets to bad you can beach it and call a friend to come pick you up.

Try it you'll like it!!