if you have put a 50' Vicking in a slip you have nothing to worry about. I wouldn't skip DP. It's just to cool . You'll have a slack tide every 6 hours and its only bad running into the current on a heavy exchange. Just ask about a current chart for it when you pick up the boat. You will want to play the currents whenever you are going any distance in that boat. If you go to La Conner on the way up DON"T take a short cut. Be sure you have water on your way into the channel. A half mile from shore it can be 2' deep.