Question 4126 Deck General

The correct answer is C) be sluggish and your speed to decrease. When a vessel enters shallow water, the proximity of the seafloor and shoreline causes the water flow around the vessel's hull and rudder to become disrupted. This results in a sluggish or reduced response from the rudder, making the vessel more difficult to steer. Additionally, the shallow water creates increased drag on the vessel, causing its speed to decrease. The other options are incorrect because: A) and B) describe improved rudder response, which is the opposite of what occurs in shallow water; D) indicates that speed would increase, when in fact it decreases due to the increased drag in shallow conditions.