OUPV & 100-Ton Master · Stability — Adding Topweight
Adding weight high on a small vessel (e.g., a tuna tower, ice on rigging, or a full upper deck of passengers):
- ALowers the center of gravity
- BRaises the center of gravity and reduces stability (lowers GM and righting arm)✓ Correct
- CHas no effect on stability
- DAlways improves seakeeping
Explanation
Topweight raises the center of gravity (G), shrinking the metacentric height GM and the righting arm. The vessel becomes more tender and can lose positive stability sooner. Keeping weight low and managing passengers/ice on upper decks is essential to small-vessel safety.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9); stability principles
Practice the full OUPV & 100-Ton Master bank
Free spaced-repetition quizzing across 2550 USCG exam questions — it schedules your reviews so the ones you miss come back until they stick.
Related OUPV & 100-Ton Master questions
- Credentials & Routes
What does the OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) credential authorize?
- Credentials & Routes
A vessel certificated under Subchapter T is best described as a:
- Credentials & Routes
The 'near coastal' route on a license authorizes operation within how many nautical miles of the coastline?
- Credentials & Routes
A Master 100 Gross Tons (Near Coastal) credential authorizes a mariner to:
- Credentials & Routes
What is the minimum age to be issued an OUPV credential?
- Sea Service
For an OUPV credential, how much total sea service is generally required?