When a hull moves forward through the water, the effective what moves forward?

When a hull moves forward through the water, the effective what moves forward?

• A. CENTER OF GRAVITY
• B. PIVOT POINT
• C. BOW
• D. KEEL

Answer: (B)

When a hull moves forward through the water, the balance of forces—buoyant force through the center of buoyancy and weight through the center of gravity—creates a pitching moment around a point that acts as the pivot for rotation. As the hull speeds up, the center of buoyancy shifts relative to the hull, so the effective point about which the hull tends to rotate moves forward along the hull. That forward-moving point is the pivot point. The center of gravity stays fixed within the hull, and the bow and keel are fixed features, so they don’t describe the moving pivot.

When a hull moves forward through the water, the balance of forces—buoyant force through the center of buoyancy and weight through the center of gravity—creates a pitching moment around a point that acts as the pivot for rotation. As the hull speeds up, the center of buoyancy shifts relative to the hull, so the effective point about which the hull tends to rotate moves forward along the hull. That forward-moving point is the pivot point. The center of gravity stays fixed within the hull, and the bow and keel are fixed features, so they don’t describe the moving pivot.