Displacement refers to the __________.

Displacement refers to the number of long tons of water displaced by a vessel afloat. This is a fundamental concept in naval architecture and boating, as it directly relates to how much water a vessel displaces when it is in the water, which is important for calculating stability and buoyancy. When a vessel is floating, it pushes a volume of water equivalent to its weight; thus, the measurement of displacement indicates the weight of water that the boat displaces.

Understanding displacement is crucial for operators as it affects not only how a vessel behaves in the water but also how much cargo or passengers it can carry while remaining safe and stable. The other terms mentioned, such as cubic capacity, deadweight carrying capacity, and gross tonnage, relate to different aspects of a vessel's size and carrying ability but do not define displacement in the context of fluid mechanics and buoyancy. This distinction is vital for anyone operating a party boat in Texas waters, as it supports safe navigation and compliance with boating regulations.