[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for boaters

Posted: 5/28/2007 7:20:43 PM EDT

Why is the steering wheel on boats on the right side? Friends and I were discussing this during our 18 hour drive back from a fishing trip to Canada and no one knew the answer.

Just curious

Posted: 5/29/2007 7:44:32 AM EDT

[#1]

Anyone?

Posted: 5/29/2007 7:48:07 AM EDT

[#2]

Never thought of it. Maybe because most people are right handed so the controls are on the side out of the way. If you drove sitting on the left side the controls would be in the middle of the boat......

Posted: 5/29/2007 8:05:37 AM EDT

[#3]

Maybe it has something to do with the origin of Starboard? Way, way back when ships had steering boards you couldn't dock a ship on the right hand side without pining the steering board so the left hand side of the vessel was always used to dock. Left = Port and Steering Board / Starboard = Right . I don't know if steering boards were controlled from the right hand or starboard side. I'm guessing.

Posted: 5/29/2007 9:20:53 AM EDT

[#4]

Props turn counter clockwise...In the older days of a simple rounded hull this would cause the right side to raise up. The steering on the right side would keep this pretty even.

I guess this design stayed even after hulls improved.

Posted: 5/29/2007 9:39:39 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Props turn counter clockwise...In the older days of a simple rounded hull this would cause the right side to raise up. The steering on the right side would keep this pretty even.

I guess this design stayed even after hulls improved.

Yup, we have a winner.

Linkeroo

Posted: 5/29/2007 2:38:58 PM EDT

[#6]

That's pretty interesting, thanks!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for boaters

Warning

Confirm Action

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for boaters

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Question for boaters