Stability

That quality which enables a ship to keep herself steadily in the water, without rolling or pitching. Stability, in the construction of a ship, is only to be acquired by fixing the centre of gravity at a certain distance below the meta-centre, because the stability of the vessel increases with the altitude of the meta-center above the centre of gravity. But when the meta-centre coincides with the centre of gravity the vessel has no tendency whatever to remove out of the situation into which it may be put. Thus, if the vessel be inclined either to the starboard or larboard side, it will remain in that position till a new force is impressed upon it; in this case, therefore, the vessel would not be able to carry sail, and is, consequently, unfit for the purposes of navigation. If the meta-centre falls below the common centre of gravity, the vessel will immediately overset.