[Alas Babylon!]

Waterspouts are mini-tornadoes that can form over water. They are smaller and weaker than normal tornadoes, and usually not as dangerous, but they can overturn small boats and damage ships.

Although they form over water, a waterspout is not filled with water from the ocean or lake. They are mostly made up of cloud or mist.

They develop from the water up and are usually not very robust. They present little to no motion and often dissipate in the event that they hit land. Yes, waterspouts can transfer from sea to land or vice-versa within the type of a twister, although they usually break up as soon as reaching shore.

[Hiddigeigei]

"Waterspouts are mini-tornadoes that can form over water. They are smaller and weaker than normal tornadoes, and usually not as dangerous, but they can overturn small boats and damage ships."
Without the heavy weather, I've seen five of them at the same time driving up from the Keys. My brother said he saw a cabin cruiser purposely head into one. After bouncing around for a minute, it turned around a got out of there. Some years ago, a 60-70 ft excursion schooner was sunk by one near Bay Bridge in the Chesapeake. I don't know if any lives were lost. It was raised and put back into servive.