What effect does freeboard have on initial stability?

Freeboard, which is the vertical distance between the waterline and the upper deck of a vessel, plays a significant role in a vessel's overall stability, especially in terms of initial stability and response to heeling.

Initial stability refers to the vessel's ability to return to an upright position after being tilted. A higher freeboard generally indicates that a vessel has a larger righting arm when it is heeled at small angles, thereby enhancing initial stability. This is because an adequate freeboard allows for a more significant amount of buoyancy that contributes to the vessel's stability against initial tilting.

As the angle of inclination increases, the effects on stability change. For larger angles, the freeboard may become less relevant compared to other stability factors, such as metacentric height or the vessel's shape. However, up to certain angles, freeboard does have a definite impact on stability. The difference in effects at both small and larger angles reinforces the complexity of how freeboard interacts with stability.

Therefore, stating that freeboard has no effect on initial stability would be incorrect. Additionally, while freeboard is important at large angles, its influence is not as straightforward, hence it does not entirely capture its effects at all angles. The statement that freeboard