well..if your heading up from Everett..it will take about 3 hrs to go thru deception pass..across Rosario and then into lopez pass...up the channel between the islands...and up to friday harbor...
I've done it so many times....but going the west side of whidbey island would involve arguing with the tankers and container ships ....it gets snotty as hell running that way...personally I love going thru deception....laconner is alot of no wake zones and gets crazy with some boaters not knowing which side of the channel to steam on....but it's still the most protected.....
just my 2 braincells firing off...when are you going??...
SP
arrr