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operational.  Whereas the opposite is having your whole system go down without any idea of where the problem occurred would take a long time to diagnose and fix. 

Keep weight low in the boat.  If you have ever stood up in a canoe or watched what happens when someone does you will appreciate this advice.  The key to a stable weapons platform is keep all possible weight below the waterline and minimizing the weight of anything located above the waterline.  Lie batteries flat on the bottom of the hull keeping total mass of batteries below the waterline.  Mount cannon low in the hull and extend barrel riser tubes to proper barrel height, don't raise the whole cannon.  A low center of balance is imperative to achieve ship stability.