Why is the front of a ship called the bow and the sides port and starboard?

Question

Why is the front of a ship called the bow and the sides port and starboard?

Answer 1

Before the invention of the midships rudder, the steering oar (steer-board) was always placed on the ships right side (the sinister or left was considered bad luck).  Consequently, the side without the steer-board was where ships tied up  (the port side) to prevent damage to steering tackle by the ship rubbing against a dock or seawall.

Answer 2

Most nautical terms come from the early sailing days when crews consisted of sailors from different countries and spoke different languages. The names came from all languages, such as Mast for the pole holding the sail, fly for the weather vane on the mast, painter for the bow tie down rope, lead for a sail rope, etc.The only rope named "rope" on a boat is the anchor rope.

The names from all the foreign languages became standardized on all ships because:

On a sailing ship with over a hundred ropes hanging or tied down, and many sails, the captain needed everyone to know exactly what rope to pull on and which direction to go, when he needed to avoid running onto the rocks or avoid other hazards. He couldn't just yell "pull that rope and go that way", when there was a hundred ropes in use.

So that is where the names came from and why they sound strange.

Answer 3

old norse terminology.  With the steering oar on the starboard ("side of the ship you steer from") side, you put the other side against the dock and loaded your cargo on that side, originally called "larboard"  ("side of the ship that you load cargo from").  Sailors had too much trouble distinguishing "starboard" from "larboard", so the left side was changed to "port".

Could be that the right side became starboard because most helmsmen were right-handed, so earliest boatmakers standardized that as the side for the steering oar.  When rudders were invented and placed on the centerline the terminology was fixed in place.

Nowadays instead of saying, "if you're standing behind the boat looking at the engine, the shift cable is on your right", we just say, "it's on the starboard side."  Works so much better.

Some say that modern side-console boats have the helm on the starboard side because of that tradition.  Others say it's because since most motors spin the prop clockwise, the weight of the driver helps offset prop torque.  I think it's to give you better visability on the starboard side, cause you are the give-way vessel if another boat is crossing from your right to your left.

Answer 4

Starboard are the ships steering originally,and the bows are shaped bowed towards each other to the pointy end with the stern being the rear rounded end,port being the left side which made steering to harbour easier as its guiding apparatus on the right which gives rise to the word POSH as the rich sailing to the far east from Britain their cabins would always face land,Port Out Starboard Home.Hull is bellow decks with the keel running at the bottom of the ship from back to front.

Answer 5

well, you do not want to be yelling to someone, look get that rope on the right! The person might not know whether you are talking about their right or your right so, you say starboard instead.

Answer 6

Starboard is called that because of the "Steer board" but is was also the side you took Stellar readings from when you navigate with a sextant. The term POSH was not coined by the cruise ship clients but does work well "Port Out, Starboard Home"

Answer 7

Caspar has it, port side to the dock and protect your starboard.

Very good.

I think if you watch Bond, "The Spy Who Loved Me" you will see one of these old rigs.