How would a 12' tri-haul perform in the sound? Just curious as to everyones thoughts. I am looking at upgrading but that will not be until sometime in the future as I have a little one on the way. It seams that there has to be solitude somewhere and hopefully the sound is somewhere I can go without fighting with folks.

You will be ok on some days and dead on others. Wear a PFD. Stay close to the Launch.
Always be aware of bigger boats around you. Be sure to carry a Signaling device. Wear a PFD. Keep a close eye on the W. (don't say it!)

As we all know, SIZE DOES MATTER!! You'll be fine during the summer when the weather is calm, and maybe when it stirs up a little. A tri-hull should be pretty stable, but I've never been in one that small. I see boats that size even smaller all the time at Pt. Defiance, just watch the tide rips. My 19'-6" Bayliner gets tossed pretty good when the tide rips hit me sideways. If you plan on being a fair weather fisherman, it should be ok. Personally I like a little more room to move around, but it sure would be nice to have something small when I go out by myself.

$.02

I fish the sound out of a 12' SemiV with a 9.9. I assume that yours is far more powerful.

Yep, I watch the weather, never more than 2 in my boat on the sound. On good days, I can fish Possession Point from Mukilteo, or McNeil Island from Purdy.

On bad days, I stay in much closer, or don't go out.

You will find that there are many of us on the sound in small boats, and the further you are from Seattle, the smaller the boat on average.

And please, please use some kind of navigation lights at dusk, dawn, or in crappy visibility. I know most li'l tinnys don't have a permanently installed electrical system, but all the marine stores sell a flashlight modified to a white all-around nav light. Everytime I launch before dawn, I can count on finding several small boats doing nothing to increase their visibility.

i have fished sekiu and the san juans in a 10'foot and did fine. just make sure you go out on a good day. and wear a pfd.

Well it sounds like the boat would work, and be safe as long as I watch weather and wear a PFD. The motor is a little small, so that is a draw back, just means pay even closer attention.

A Tr-Hull boat is good in the choppy water and very stable, when the rollers wander to ya,remember it's an open bow.
You have to know how to drive a boat in water and how to face the waves.
When to speed up, when to slow down.
You cannot outrun mother nature against a tide, so any boat can be had, no matter what size.
If its a bad day and rough, don't chance it If unsure. It ain't worth it.
I grew up in the sound and have taken my share of chances, but better to be safe than sorry.
It will work in the right conditions, and not venturing too far out, launch close to your destination with a small boat IMO.
Be safe, lights and safety are great points and be prepared cause ya never know, weather can turn quick!! as you may have seen on the news in Mukilteo....

WW

WW

I didn't need to see the news in Mukilteo... I was there in person.

http://slacktide.org:88/ids/index.cgi?mode=album&album=/dan/washington/Mukilteo/storm

Besides Ivars, a portion of the fishing pier was washed away. This kind of bites because they take the ramp piers out for winter, and I use the ladder off the fishing pier to get on my boat after launching on the dockless ramp.

Thanks for the pic's slacktide. Did they make it to the end of the floating docks?

slacktide,

great pics. Were you shooting for Dumb and Dumber or Idiotsareus?

Looks like candidates for the Darwin Award!

If you are not being silly and watch the weather you will be fine out there, i fish out there all the time in my14ft livingston and have never had a problem (knock on driftwood), i also have a closed bow and a top on the little thing with a 28hp johnson. Like they said earlier i wouldn't put any more than 2 on that small of an open bow boat. I capsized at the end of june in a 10ft open bow and it wasn't fun, even made the tribune. Just be careful and safe. PFD's save lives!

Boat size only matters to Mr.s Boat. By the way, it will never be big enough...

Ok, so the boat will be alright if I keep my head about what I'm doing. What about motor size? Like I said before the motor I currently have is a small (4.5 hp). What should I look for? 10hp? 15? Suggestions please.

Thanks.
FS

Most boats have a HP limit. For a good reason! As long as you dont exceed the rating, the more the better up to the limit. With that said, i'd use the most reliable vs the most power. A 4.5 is not much help, and drives more like a pontoon than a boat. I'll bet I know places you could'nt outrun the tide with a 4.5. It might be great as a kicker or backup, but only if you have the wieght to spare. And something with a rectifier to run those lights!

Good info above!