Those of us that sail small boats quickly develop an appreciation for stability. All it takes is a gust of wind or a large wave, and we’re wet. Larger boats, especially those designed for cruising, respond much slower and usually give the impression of having a great deal of stability. Under normal conditions virtually all large boats do have adequate stability, but will this be true in a sever storm? Will they roll violently, or if knocked down, will they come back upright? Whether going for a day sail or leaving on a world cruise, It’s important that you answer these questions and understand the key factors that determine stability. Stability is the resistance of a boat to forces that tend to induce heeling. These forces are usually static, like wind pressure on the sails, but storm conditions can bring dynamic forces (wind gusts and breaking waves) into play. Evaluating the overall stability of a blue water cruising boat requires the consideration of both static and dynamic stability issues. Four key factors are involved:
-
Center of Gravity (known as ballast stability)
- Center of Buoyancy
(form stability) - Displacement
(effects static and dynamic stability) - Moment of Inertia
(dynamic stability)
My engineering background is rock solid, my artistic ability is what it is. I have built boats using wood strips, stitch and glue techniques, and molded fiberglass. Some have been better than others, but they all floated without breaking! I select a building process assuming an inexperienced builder, having few tools, who wants the process to be simple and progress to be fast. Visit my site @ http://www.johnsboatstuff.com