Why is the drivers' seat usually on the right hand side of a boat?

Question

This question has nagged me since I was child. Someone out there has to know a logical answer to this.

Answer 1

Hey they are all really great answers to a really great question but have you ever seen a nitro 911 CDC?  it steers from the center along with many of other performance boats.  The only good reason i can think for the steering to be on the right is because over 80 percent of the worlds population is right handed and right side oriented so it feels more natural to sit and steer from that side.  Most of the boats i Deal with that are nitro brand that steer from the center have a hot foot instead of a throttle lever making the boat have an gas peddle like a car.  Also look into the Mako bay boats they all steer from the center as well.

Answer 2

I believe the right side steering wheel gets its roots from England. I dont remember the whole story but it makes sense to me.

Before boats had rudders on their centerline, boats were steered by use of a specialized oar. This oar was held by a sailor located towards the stern (back) of the boat. However, like most of the rest of society, there were many more right-handed sailors than left-handed sailors. This meant that the right-handed sailors holding the steering oar (which had been broadened to provide better control) used to stand on the right side of the boat. The word starboard is a corruption of steering board, which in turn came from the old Norse language word st�ri, in the language of the vikings.

Similarly, the term for the left side of the boat, port, is derived from the practice of sailors mooring on the left side (i.e., the Portboard side) as to prevent the steering boards from being crushed. Because the words portboard and starboard sounded too similar to be distingued under windy sailing conditions, portboard was shortened to port.

The starboad side of most naval vessels the world over is designated the 'senior' side. The officers' gangway or sea ladder is shipped on this side and this side of the quarterdeck is reserved for the captain. The flag or pennant of the ship's captain or senior officer in command is generally hoist on the starboard yard.

Answer 3

Most props turn counterclockwise. having the driver on the right asures weight on the right to balance the turning of the prop.

Answer 4

My father was a master boat builder before his death. He told me it was so boats could approach from opposite directions and keep an eye on the right side, where the shore usually was. This would make sense in a channel or some narrow passage.

Answer 5

Bigger boats usually steer from the centerline. Many of these put the master's chair on the right. I believe the reason for having the control position on the right side of a vessel is because of the nautical rules of the road. A vessel on your right generally has the right of way and you have to give way to them. you are on the right so you can see them easier in order to avoid them. according to the rules of the road they are generally supposed to maintain their course and speed.

Answer 6

the driver sits on the opposite side because of the torgue of the engine. The driver balances the boat out. If the driver sat on the opposite side, the boat would want to turn left all the time. The driver sitting on the right allows the trim of the boat to be flat so the boat will go in a staight line.

Answer 7

a lot of good answers, but only the smaller boats have steering on the starboard side. right of way at sea is given to a boat approaching from the right( starboard) and for visibility reasons the wheel is on the right. also to give access to the bow of the boat and to a cabin forward if such is the case. all naval vessels and large ships have centerline steering.

Answer 8

Great question. And great answers from folks who replied. Historical reasons and all.

I do think that this arrangement has something to do with the "English" ways. Just like the driver seat in UK is on the right.