On Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:48:53 -0400, Tom Francis - SWSports
wrote:

I'm pretty sure I said block. I'm sure you could stop an engine
running at speed by knocking off some piece of external equipment, but
I don't think a 12 guage shot gun slug will penetrate a block to the
extent that it will penetrate enough to do internal damage.

Maybe they do get that close - I don't know. I'm think more about a
standoff shot from over 50 yards.

Then again, every video I've seen of them blowing up outboards has
been with a .50 cal.

Somewhere out on YouTube there is a training video where they
demonstrate shotgun technique with the shooter laying prone in the
front of a RIB, while they chase a target boat with fake outboards on
the back. Can't find it at the moment.

A shotgun is certainly a lot safer than a machine gun in congested
waters.