That's a reasonable boat to do it in. For five years I ran out of Steveston to Porlier and beyond in a DE206, once a month, year round. Worst crossing was November a couple of years ago, on day three of sustained 25kt winds and gusting to 35...they shut down the ferries and you can imagine what Sand Heads looked like. We also had to imagine it, because it was almost impossible to see through the blowing spray. It was very rough and once the sun went down conditions deteriorated - but of course by that time we were well out into the strait and really, once you've left the river behind you're through the worst of it. Boat was bone dry inside, although afterwards I did say that I'd never cross in winds over 25 knots again.
At any rate, if I could've picked my days more easily I'd have done it in something smaller for sure. As it was I usually had several hundred pounds of gear on board and once I was off work on Friday I was on the water, winds and tides be damned. It would have to be a serious gale before I would consider not going.
if the departure times are flexible or you don't have to negotiate Sand Heads etc, honestly...an 1825 KF would be plenty most days. The middle of the strait is pretty tame in my experience - keep your nose into the sea and you'll never see a wave that will roll you, at least not in any weather you'd step on a boat in.
Active is pretty easy and Porlier not much worse. The rough spots I have seen in the region are around Entrance Island and in and out of the river at Sand Heads. The river is a pain because you just get the waves and bars worked out, and now you're taking the wake of a loaded car carrier at 90 degrees while trying to stay on the back of a big roller heading in...which turns into a hole as it drops off a bar right as you catch up to the wake of a big tug dragging barges and throwing six more feet of wake at a whole different angle. Yes, this exact thing happened to me. It required max throttle to fix and did age me somewhat.
Anyway if you can avoid the worst places and times, crossing the strait is not too bad. I would guess I have at least fifty crossings and probably closer to a hundred, and I chose my exit times purely by work schedule. In five years I had one incident where I delayed my departure by a day, and one where I delayed it by three hours.
I don't miss it but it's not as bad as people make out, in my experience at least.
