Buoyancy isn't really a force....it's a property, which makes it constant for any given object, displacement on the other hand is a force and it is the same in both cases, this whole issue is one of stability and moments.

"The energy for the move comes from the centre of gravity of the displaced water being lower in the case where the object is floating horizontally"

yeah you got it, im pretty sure thats the way energy works there

but then you have to agree than in one case the force of buoyancy is greater than the other

BUT IN BOTH CASES EQUAL AMOUNT OF WATER IS DISPLACED

who hasnt memorized this?

"the principle states that the buoyant force on an object is going to be equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object"

now wouldnt you call this principle false then?

it expects equal force in both cases since the displaced water is equal

but andy just nailed i the key is that nature if it can takes the cogs down

edit:

i knew here would be a better place to discuss this than an science forum really good thinkers people here :)

could petrol companies sponsor science?

check this out andy do you think its worth to render in a phyics simulator?

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...Imagen0083.jpg

the mass of the stick may be the same in both configurations... but in the vertical it transposes its mass into a smaller footprint compared to the amount transposed when in the horizontal.
stable = COG sitting just below the waterline

have a paddle at the beach.... stretch out and you float, curl up and you sink