Principles Of Stability For Boaters And Marine Engineers

Understanding what keeps ships floating upright, so that you don't have a bad day on the water!

What you'll learn

Understand the relationship between the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy.

Understand the righting moment and its impacts on stability.

Define traits that make stability better or worse.

Be prepared for maritime regulatory exams regarding stability.

Requirements

No experience is required however an understanding of boats will help.

Description

Keep floating!  This course is for recreational boaters, sailors, or professional mariners looking to increase their understanding of ship stability principles and how to keep a boat or ship safely stable on the water.  In the course we will discuss the key points on a vessel such as the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy, as well as the relationship of righting arm to stability of a vessel.  We'll discuss the metacenter and common stability indicators such as GM. In addition, we'll learn about common actions that make stability better or worse on boats.  We'll also review certain key elements which often appear on professional examinations including several practice problems and solutions.  Using video and whiteboard lectures, this course will give you a better understanding of why ships remain upright in the water, and how they are impacted by shifting weights, wind, and seas.  As an end result, you will better understand heeling, listing, and rolling period of vessels as indicators of stability.    This course is produced by Practical Navigator Training, an approved Coast Guard maritime training provider in the United States, and the instructor is Capt. Chris Nolan, a licensed mariner and tall ship captain with over 20 years of seagoing experience. 

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction to the Course

Section 2: Stability Terminology and Key Points on a Vessel

Lecture 2 The Keel, Center of Gravity, and Center of Buoyancy

Lecture 3 KG and GM - Two Key Measurements of Stability

Lecture 4 Ship Motions and How They Move

Section 3: Why Ships Tilt Over and Why They (Usually) Right Themselves

Lecture 5 Reasons Why a Ship Can Tilt Over (List/Heel/Loll/Capsize)

Lecture 6 GZ and the Righting Arm

Lecture 7 Hypothetical Quiz: Which Ship Would Be Harder to Tip Over??

Lecture 8 Trim and Longitudinal Stability

Section 4: Example Math Problems from Coast Guard Stability Exams (Optional Section)

Lecture 9 Section Introduction

Lecture 10 Rolling Period Problems

Lecture 11 Weight Shift Problems

Lecture 12 Deck Load Center of Gravity Problems

Lecture 13 200 Ton Sample Exam

Lecture 14 100 Ton Sample Exam

Section 5: Course Conclusion and Where to Go Next

Lecture 15 Wrapping Up the Course

This course is for recreational boaters as well as junior ship engineers, or any professional mariner looking for a refresher on ship stability.