If a vessel has a negative GM, what would you expect?

A vessel with a negative metacentric height (GM) indicates that its center of gravity (G) is higher than its metacenter (M). This configuration results in a condition of instability. When a vessel has a negative GM, it does not have the ability to generate an effective righting moment when tilted; instead, it will tend to continue listing to one side if disturbed.

In this scenario, when the vessel is subjected to external force or force, such as wind or waves, it may list to either side as there is no righting moment to bring it back to an upright position. The vessel's stability is compromised, leading to the likelihood that it could capsize if the angle of heel becomes excessive.

Therefore, the appropriate expectation for a vessel with a negative GM is that it will be able to list to either side, reflecting the inherent instability of that condition.