RH steering?

[jimmer4444]

I was wondering why are boats always steered on the right hand side..

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: RH steering?

They are not!.......​

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: RH steering?

All of the boats I've owned have been on the right but all of my friend's boats are on the left. They aren't always on the right but it seems most are.

 

[JB]

Re: RH steering?

The torque of a single, clockwise prop usually tends a boat to list to port. By placing the pilot on the starboard side this is at least partially counterbalanced.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: RH steering?

Well shoot, I just assumed that in UK and Australia they all steered from the left side of the boat!

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: RH steering?

Yep it's known as prop torque. Airplanes have the same problem, except its to the left, and it's known as P-factor. It's simply the reaction of the boat to the action of the prop spinning.

On boats with two engines and counter rotating props this doesn't happen as the props cancel each other out and the boat goes straight. Same with twin engine planes with counter rotating props.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: RH steering?

learn somthing new every day

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: RH steering?

Well shoot, I just assumed that in UK and Australia they all steered from the left side of the boat!

Ya got that the wrong way around


It's our colonial cousins in the States that drive on the left, we have the steering wheel on the *correct* side




Ps, shouldn't it be port and starboard anyway?

 

[bekosh]

Re: RH steering?

I heard the reason the driver is on the right side is so you have better visability, since you are the give way vessel when approached from that direction.

RULE 15
Crossing Situation ​

[FONT=Arial,Arial](a) When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel. [/FONT]​

​

At least that is what they said in my Power Squadron saftey class.:redface: