Finegrain,
If the traffic is not too congested, the drive around isn't so bad. (But it sounds like you know that)

I took a boat across Port Townsend/Keystone recently @ $30 one way, and that was with the generous "under 40 feet" the ticket taker gave me.

Another option would be to give Mutiny Bay a try. Slim pickings, but close to Mukilteo. A few each year are pulled out of there though.