Has any Doper out there been caught in a waterspout while fishing, water-skiing, etc. ? Or had near encounter? If so what was it like? Where was it and what time of year? Tornadoes (see below) are pretty destructive especially with all the debris flying around and smacking into buildings and people. But a waterspout? Unless you count the boat and other stuff, I would think you would have a better chance of surviving (inspite of the stinging drops). But Mother Nature always has tricks up her sleeve…
I had a chance to see my first land lubber version last year in northern VA. I was so excited I called my wife (in NC) who wouldn’t answer. The reason? Lighting had hit the telephone junction box and by the way, a tornado skipped over our house, while tearing up the homes south-west and north-east of us (nobody died except for a couple of puppies). My story seemed so prosaic by comparison… 
Yeah, I live on Lake Michigan. And about 15 years ago or so, we were out on the deck, the Mrs, elfbabe, and I. It was a blustery spring day IIRC, and a strong wind was alternating warm and cold. Well, cold and colder. Suddenly 5 year old elfbabe points to the lake and says “what’s that, daddy?”
I look up and see a waterspout forming, maybe 60-70 yards offshore. Quite impressive looking, maybe 3 or 4 feet across and perhaps 80 feet high. I sagely inform my little one that she’s seeing a waterspout, lake water being sucked into the air.
“What makes a waterspout happen, daddy?” I reply “well hon, what happens is that turbulent air above starts moving very rapidly in a counter-clockwise direction, and it spins so fast, it sends down a twisty moving shaft of air, or torn…a…do… OK, everybody into the basement! Now! Now!”
When we came back up, Mr. Waterspout was gone. And I learned a valuable lesson: Perhaps one should not be so Olympianically Detached when answering one’s child’s questions.