CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. -- While the Bay are doesn't currently have any duck boat operations like the one that ran into stormy weather and capsized in Branson, Missouri on Friday, there used to be such boats operating here. 

With that in mind, we spoke to regular tour boat operators about the conditions they face on area waters, and just how quickly the weather can turn things dangerous.

"We always have our radar on in the hut -- Spectrum Bay News 9 -- and we have our phones and we have radar on the ship, so it's not a guess," said Pam Wozencraft, who has been running Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise from the Clearwater Marina for 40 years.

Wozencraft also said if there's lightning in the area or winds above 40 miles per hour, boat trips are canceled, and she does have contingency plans in place in case captains face emergency situations.

"Our policy with the Coast Guard if we lost an engine or if, God forbid, there were a fire or anything like that on the boat, just to run it aground, because luckily Clearwater is so shallow we could get our guests off right away."

The amphibious "Ride the Ducks" boat involved in the Branson incident capsized when strong winds and waves swept through the area. Witnesses said the skies grew dark and a fierce wind, estimated to be more than 60 miles per hour, battered the boat and started it sinking.

Our meteorologists here at Spectrum Bay News 9 report that the National Weather Service in Springfield, Missouri did issue a severe thunderstorm warning about 25 minutes before the accident occurred. 

National safety advocates have been asking for improvements to the duck boats, and have complained that too many agencies are in charge of regulating them with different safety requirements.