What is the tendency of a boat to remain upright called?

The tendency of a boat to remain upright is referred to as stability. Stability is crucial for the safety and operational effectiveness of a vessel, as it helps to prevent capsizing and ensures that the boat can withstand forces such as wind and waves.

A boat's stability relies on its design, weight distribution, and the shape of the hull. When a boat is tilted or heeled over, its stability influences how far it can lean before it returns to an upright position or capsizes. High stability means the boat can return to an upright position easily after being tilted, making it safer to operate in various conditions.

Buoyancy, while related to how a boat floats, refers to the upward force that counters the weight of the boat, rather than its ability to stay upright. Mobility pertains to how well a boat can maneuver and move through the water, which is different from the concept of stability. Draft describes the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull, indicating the depth of water a boat requires to float safely but does not relate to stability. Thus, stability is the most accurate term for the concept of a boat's tendency to remain upright.