For positive stability, when the boat tilts, what happens?

For positive stability, when the boat tilts, what happens?

• A. It sinks
• B. It capsizes
• C. It returns to upright (Correct)
• D. It remains tilted

Answer: (C)

Positive stability means the vessel tends to right itself when it’s heeled. When the boat tilts, the shape of the hull and the shift of the submerged volume move the center of buoyancy to the lower side. If the metacenter sits above the vessel’s center of gravity, this shift creates a restoring moment that rotates the boat back toward upright. So, in the range where stability is positive, the boat returns to upright rather than sinking, staying tilted, or capsizing. (Keep in mind that if a boat is heeled too far, the restoring effect can disappear and stability can be lost.)

Positive stability means the vessel tends to right itself when it’s heeled. When the boat tilts, the shape of the hull and the shift of the submerged volume move the center of buoyancy to the lower side. If the metacenter sits above the vessel’s center of gravity, this shift creates a restoring moment that rotates the boat back toward upright. So, in the range where stability is positive, the boat returns to upright rather than sinking, staying tilted, or capsizing. (Keep in mind that if a boat is heeled too far, the restoring effect can disappear and stability can be lost.)