why steer on right for boats

[joed]

Something made me think of this on the weekend.
Why do boats have the steering on the right? I know some have center consoles but never left side steering like a vehicle. Do boats in UK have sterring on the left, opposite of us like cars?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: why steer on right for boats

no, the prop torque of the motor, tends to tilt the boat. the controls on the right counters is torque.

 

[Thunder_SS]

Re: why steer on right for boats

no, the prop torque of the motor, tends to tilt the boat. the controls on the right counters is torque.

Honestly, that can't be the reason!!

There has to be more to the story then this......

Sounds good, but has to be more, maybe.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: why steer on right for boats

Some of the older boats had the steering on the left.
I remember seeing some.
But yea, prop torque mostly.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: why steer on right for boats

Honestly, that can't be the reason!!

There has to be more to the story then this......

Sounds good, but has to be more, maybe.

There is a bit more to the story. It isn't so much the controls being on the starboard, rather than the weight of the operator behind said controls.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: why steer on right for boats

i was told once this is rooted in nautical history
way back when, when boats were steered with rudder board hanging of the side they were hung off the right hand ,think viking boats enc., to make it easier for right handed ,the majority of the population, to handle.
this led to the left side of the boat being the port side as it was impossible to dock with the rudder hanging on the right side of the boat.
the starboard came from navigating at night and picking a star to follow and being on the rudder board side, came to be called the starboard side.
to answer your question, i think tradition as much as any thing.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: why steer on right for boats

jaxnjil's answer seems like a better explanation, although I don't have a clue if it is correct or not. We could just as easily have had left-side consoles and mirror-image propellers designed to turn in the opposite direction. AFAIK counterrotating propellers are common in twin-engine boats to eliminate the propeller torque problem entirely.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: why steer on right for boats

Some of the older boats had the steering on the left.

Yup. Didn't take me long to get rid of that either.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: why steer on right for boats

We could just as easily have had left-side consoles and mirror-image propellers designed to turn in the opposite direction.

Sure, but look what is common. Most engines you see are clockwise turners (as you face the transom). If modern engines had been designed to run the other way, I bet you would see all the helms on the port side. On the twin engined boats, they just follow what is common, for lack of a better reason to swap sides.

 

[Boatist]

Re: why steer on right for boats

I have no idea why they are on starboard but belive it is the best side.

Since boat to Starboard have right away then I think the Starboard side is the best side for the helm. Some boats you can see good to both sides but some clearly have a better view to starboard than port.

A boat with right of way (The Stand on Vessel) coming from your starboard Beam is eaiser to see with the wheel to Starboard than a boat coming from your port beam (The Give Wave Vessel). Hopefully you see boats on a collision course from every direction but it is your responsibilty to Give Way and Alter Course to any boat on your starboard side. This is the reason the light are set up the way they are also. You will see the Red Navigition light from boat on your starboard Side with RIGHT of Way (The Stand on Vessel).

 

[Titanium48]

Re: why steer on right for boats

Sure, but look what is common. Most engines you see are clockwise turners (as you face the transom). If modern engines had been designed to run the other way, I bet you would see all the helms on the port side. On the twin engined boats, they just follow what is common, for lack of a better reason to swap sides.

I think engine design followed convention rather than set it. Classical 2-strokes will run in either direction (I believe Mercury once used that "feature" for reverse) and 4-strokes need only a different camshaft(s) and different timing belt/chain tensioner placement to run in the opposite direction.

Both rotation directions are used in automobiles - my Saturn has the transaxle on the driver's side (CCW rotation viewing from transaxle end) and my neighbor's Honda has a passenger side transaxle (CW rotation viewing from transaxle end).

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: why steer on right for boats

Classical 2-strokes will run in either direction (I believe Mercury once used that "feature" for reverse)

Yup - the Merc 600 "Dockbuster."

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: why steer on right for boats

I couldn't maintain control with my left hand at the buisy docks, my old MFG has seperate throttle and gear shift control. I'm going with the right hander story, and I saw a left hand steer boat but it had a gas pedal like a car, also a gasser engine with pipes and a blower hanging out.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: why steer on right for boats

I've driven several old inboard runabouts with the steering on the left. Throttle was either on the left or on the hub of the wheel. BUT, most had a floor-mounted shifter, too, that would be operated by your right hand...
- Scott

 

[cmcpherson]

Re: why steer on right for boats

I couldn't maintain control with my left hand at the buisy docks, my old MFG has seperate throttle and gear shift control. I'm going with the right hander story, and I saw a left hand steer boat but it had a gas pedal like a car, also a gasser engine with pipes and a blower hanging out.

Fountains have their throttles on the left side of the driver, they seem to do ok with it.