Why is the boat steering wheel on the right side?

[MotoBoat]

Why do you suppose a boat with a steering wheel is driven from the right side, and a American car from the left?

[Bodofish]

I've wondered that myself and all I can think of is boats are to pass Port to Port and in a canal or river it would put the pilot on the shore side. Canadian and Ausi boats often have the helm on the left side..... go figure.

[MotoBoat]

I've wondered that myself and all I can think of is boats are to pass Port to Port and in a canal or river it would put the pilot on the shore side. Canadian and Ausi boats often have the helm on the left side..... go figure.

Seems logical to me. Really makes ya go "Hmmmmmmmmm".

[Amx]

That's how they drove wagons in Europe, and then the U.S. I don't remember why Americans started to drive sitting on the left side. Wikkkkipiita somesuch spelling should tell you. lol

[Bodofish]

Totally a guess by me, I've often wondered myself. Had to give an aquaintance a hard time when he ordered a sled he had them put the helm on the port side. I told him it was a slam dunk sale in Canada if ever wants to sell......

[Amx]

boats;

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Aku ... =yfp-t-701" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

cars;

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0o ... =yfp-t-701" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MotoBoat]

Totally a guess by me, I've often wondered myself. Had to give an aquaintance a hard time when he ordered a sled he had them put the helm on the port side. I told him it was a slam dunk sale in Canada if ever wants to sell......

Are you giving the Canooks a bad time........"A"? LOL!

[MotoBoat]

That's how they drove wagons in Europe, and then the U.S. I don't remember why Americans started to drive sitting on the left side. Wikkkkipiita somesuch spelling should tell you. lol

I did a google search before posting. Fount a couple good answers. Wanted to see what others might think?

[Amx]

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=357069" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MotoBoat]

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=357069

There is a fourth and better answer, I believe, than the 3 that were given. Keep looking! Although, the torque one is pretty sensible!!

[Bodofish]

this one seems most resonable to me:

Re: why are boats driven from the right side?
<sigh> I've posted this before, but will do so again...

Helm is not on the right because of prop rotation, it is the other way around... prop rotates that way because helm IS on the right. See below:

Modern boat design, like many things, has its roots based on history.

Back in the old days, before powerboats, the captain steered his sailboat (or rowboat, such as Vikings longboats) from the right side, as most folks are predominantly right-handed. The captain also navigated from this helm position, often using his sextant to gauge the stars at night. Thus, the right-hand side of the boat became known as the "steering board", and later as "starboard".

Since the helm was positioned on the right-hand side of the boat, this left the left-hand side of the boat with an empty space in which to carry cargo. The boat would arrive at port with that side of the boat to the dock so that cargo could be easily loaded/unloaded. Thus, the left-hand side of the boat became known as "port".

As boats became more numerous, there arose the need for traffic rules. Since the captain/helm was on the starboard side, maritime rules were developed to take advantage of this fact. Hence, the captain is able to see other boats on his right and is able to "give way", whereas with highly-stacked cargo on the port side, a captain may not see boats on his port side, so he has the "right-of-way". Green and red lighting then followed suit in this manner. These rules also formed the basis for land-based traffic rules which came much later. This is why you "give way" or "yield" to the person on your right (right-of-way) when you meet at right angles at an unmarked intersection in your car/truck.

Later, as motorboats came into existance, the engineers, realizing that in an empty boat most of the weight is concentrated at the helm (starboard side), designed props to rotate in a clockwise fashion (when viewed from the rear of the boat), so that prop torque would be somewhat cancelled by the weight of the helm. As you know, or at least now realize, counter-clockwise rotating props were/are designed to counteract prop torque in twin-engine setups.

Now, why were there LH-steering boats? These became popular after WWII, when the country (USA, that is) prospered, people had money, and manufacturers wanted to get people into boats. The easiest way, they figured, was to configure the boat much like an automobile, so that new boaters would not be intimidated. A typical case where marketing dominated over "form follows function", and resulted in boats that likely performed below what they optimally could have. Also, in the case of jet boats, there was practically no prop torque to contend with.

[MotoBoat]

this one seems most resonable to me:

Re: why are boats driven from the right side?
<sigh> I've posted this before, but will do so again...

Helm is not on the right because of prop rotation, it is the other way around... prop rotates that way because helm IS on the right. See below:

Modern boat design, like many things, has its roots based on history.

Back in the old days, before powerboats, the captain steered his sailboat (or rowboat, such as Vikings longboats) from the right side, as most folks are predominantly right-handed. The captain also navigated from this helm position, often using his sextant to gauge the stars at night. Thus, the right-hand side of the boat became known as the "steering board", and later as "starboard".

Since the helm was positioned on the right-hand side of the boat, this left the left-hand side of the boat with an empty space in which to carry cargo. The boat would arrive at port with that side of the boat to the dock so that cargo could be easily loaded/unloaded. Thus, the left-hand side of the boat became known as "port".

As boats became more numerous, there arose the need for traffic rules. Since the captain/helm was on the starboard side, maritime rules were developed to take advantage of this fact. Hence, the captain is able to see other boats on his right and is able to "give way", whereas with highly-stacked cargo on the port side, a captain may not see boats on his port side, so he has the "right-of-way". Green and red lighting then followed suit in this manner. These rules also formed the basis for land-based traffic rules which came much later. This is why you "give way" or "yield" to the person on your right (right-of-way) when you meet at right angles at an unmarked intersection in your car/truck.

Later, as motorboats came into existance, the engineers, realizing that in an empty boat most of the weight is concentrated at the helm (starboard side), designed props to rotate in a clockwise fashion (when viewed from the rear of the boat), so that prop torque would be somewhat cancelled by the weight of the helm. As you know, or at least now realize, counter-clockwise rotating props were/are designed to counteract prop torque in twin-engine setups.

Now, why were there LH-steering boats? These became popular after WWII, when the country (USA, that is) prospered, people had money, and manufacturers wanted to get people into boats. The easiest way, they figured, was to configure the boat much like an automobile, so that new boaters would not be intimidated. A typical case where marketing dominated over "form follows function", and resulted in boats that likely performed below what they optimally could have. Also, in the case of jet boats, there was practically no prop torque to contend with.

That is quite a historic lesson in the advent of the boat. I think boats with "left hand steer" were before my time. In fact I now they were. But I cannot remember seeing any antique boat with left hand steering, ever!. Not in the water, or in a parade.

Don't the old time wooden boats, like the one in the movie "On Golden Pond". Have right hand steering too?

The "fourth" good reason for right hand or starboard steering, mentioned earlier. Was not in that thorough explanation of boat history, and engineering. Has not been mentioned........as of yet!

[TroutCowboy]

VERY interesting topic, I have always wondered the same thing. Great find, Bodofish!

Related topic: When I was a boating newbie and pulling tubers/skiers/boarders, I was schooled to circle the lake with my shoulder to the shore. Anyone else ever heard the same? I assumed it was so that you had the best view of the docks and other shoreline obstacles.

[Dustin07]

my mind just exploded for a moment. I never even thought about it lol.


http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3s2lcs/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fishinChristian]

from answers.com

The only credible info I read (online) goes as follows. The prop of boats rotates clockwise so the boat lifts on the right, so putting the steering wheel and the weight of the driver counteracts this lift and thus the boat runs without tilt or much less then if the steering wheel would be on the left.

I don't know if they're right, but they seem to think so.

[Bodofish]

Sorry study up some more. Or just read the preceding posts and links. This discussion has been going on for quite some time. Vessels have been steered from the right (starboard) side long before engines and props. The weight of the Pilot in the case of boats doesn't make enough difference to counteract anything on a vessel of any size. When the positioning was decided there were no "runabouts". We're also talking about boats so there is no logic, they were originally built by artists.

[MotoBoat]

Sorry study up some more. Or just read the preceding posts and links. This discussion has been going on for quite some time. Vessels have been steered from the right (starboard) side long before engines and props. The weight of the Pilot in the case of boats doesn't make enough difference to counteract anything on a vessel of any size. When the positioning was decided there were no "runabouts". We're also talking about boats so there is no logic, they were originally built by artists.

Is it just me, or at times does it appear there is a web site bully?

When it comes to boats, there is no logic to weight placement? Where does that logic stem from Bodo? With that logic: "Lets put the battery, kicker and gas tank on the same side as the driver?

Ever operate the boat with the only other person on board sitting on the same side as the driver, and ask them to move to the other side to level the boat? I have a 18ft Lund that requires that maneuver. Weight distribution does matter.

How does a artist rendering of a vessel. Equate to weight distribution and torque properties of a power boat?

[Bodofish]

Its all about history. It has nothing to do with engineering.

[racfish]

My question is. We drive autos from the left and boats on the right. In the UK they drive autos on the right side,Where is their steering located on marine crafts? On the left?

[Amx]

'Small' boats in the salt are on the right, BUT, you CAN, or COULD buy small boats with the steering on the left, I've seen pictures. And some have a center console.

The LARGE ships have center helms. But then the helmsman doesn't really watch where he's going, the capt. or officer of the day tells the helmsman where to steer.

Anyway, what I heard many years ago is in Eruope the drivers of wagons were on the right, so the boat were on the right, so the cars are on the right.

Americans didn't want to do what England did, so they went with driving on the left in cars. BUT, if they used that reasoning, then why didn't Americans drive their wagons on the left?

To confusing for me to worry about it. I just go fishing.