Atlantic Beach N.C. Waterspouts 8/10/08

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Very cool shots captain Joe, thanks for posting!
I believe I read recently that water spouts pose no threat to a boat, as they are "heavy" with water and very slow and weak as tornadoes go.
Any experts to confirm or correct? We all seem to at least try to avoid them. I imagine that may have to do with the high likelihood of a major thunderstorm in the vicinity rather than the spouts themselves?
SeaBiscuit

Nick,
Funny hearing the real accounts. I would not have known they could do damage. My brother-in-law laughs about them. He maintains they pose very little threat to a boat. He is a commercial fisherman as is his father(who feels the same way). He says they have had em go right across the boat. Of course they try to steer around them, but they make very little effort to go way out of the way to avoid them. I would be interested to know if anyone has ever sustained any real damage or been in danger because of one. Personally I am more concerned with high voltage shows on open water than the spouts.

Holwachagot