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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/01/2011 :  19:55:20  Show Profile
SO - I've searched but can't seem to find the answer...can anyone explain why the steering wheel on a power boat is on the starboard side?

Best we could do was speculate it had something to do w/ commercial fishing and reaching over the side w/ your right (dominate) hand and steering w/ your left...any other opinions?

Yeah - were definitely NOT suffering from cabin fever at all over here...
Jerry
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jhinton
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2011 :  20:10:55  Show Profile
I've heard lots of reasons, all claiming to be why wheels are found on the starboard side. One was the Vikings having the steering board (hence starboard) on the right side in order to be more easily controlled with the more typical dominant right hand. Another is to add weight to the starboard side in order to counteract the torque produced by props (seems a little hokey to me nowadays with counter-rotating props and all). Another is to more easily see boats that you are to give way to. Which one is correct? I haven't the foggiest. Maybe a combination of them all?
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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2011 :  20:22:05  Show Profile
Maybe this is it:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/43031?ref=W_Ask&utm_source=Ask
Edited by - dmpilc on 02/01/2011 20:22:33
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 02/01/2011 :  20:31:47  Show Profile
A quick Google yielded [url="http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/43031"]these opinions[/url]...

The first answer speaks to the terms "starboard" and "port", but I'm inclined to go with the last (shortest) answer--better visibility to starboard, where an approaching boat is the stand-on vessel (but does <i>not</i> have "right of way" as mentioned there). There could be some merit to the third answer--the fact that normally prop-walk pushes the stern to starboard (in forward gear), which could make it easier for a single-handing helmsman to dock against the starboard side.

The second, "anonymous" answer is way too long, omits the best points, and has too many errors to waste your time on.

Edit: David beat me while I was adding my opinions... Typical! Hinton found the same thing but didn't admit it.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 02/01/2011 20:43:29
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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2011 :  06:14:29  Show Profile
thanks guys...when I tell the story, I'm going w/ DavidP's source! Is it Spring yet???????
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skybird
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2011 :  10:28:39  Show Profile  Visit skybird's Homepage
Our electricity won't stay on long enough to see any tv. Did the groundhog see his shadow? Wasted day here too!
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jhinton
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2011 :  10:30:28  Show Profile
He sure did, Spring is on its way!
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2011 :  11:21:17  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by jhinton</i>
<br />He sure did, Spring is on its way!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Wait! If he sees his shadow, he runs back into his hole, and spring is cancelled!
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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts
Response Posted - 02/02/2011 :  12:56:47  Show Profile
The answer is simply that most power boaters hold their beer in their left hand.

Oh...and that overgrown squirrel did NOT see his shadow. Which means that spring will come early this year, so don't bother shoveling all that snow it will melt soon enough. At least that's what I saw on the news whil I was sitting by the pool at my cousin's house in Fla.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.