Right Hand Drive

[Martman]

Does anyone know why runabouts, bow riders etc are RHD not LHD like our cars in north america.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Right Hand Drive

Does anyone know why runabouts, bow riders etc are RHD not LHD like our cars in north america.

Ayuh,... 'cause Nobody would know how to work a throttle, left-handed....

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Right Hand Drive

Because the torque from the prop causes port side to lift under acceleration so uses your weight to balance it out some.

and what Bond-O said.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Right Hand Drive

Yeah...sort of.

Mostly it could be blamed on tradition since boating goes back a ways and old habits are hard to break. Before the use of the modern day rudder, boats were steered by a specialized oar, which was situated on the right-hand side, or starboard side of the vessel (originally steerboard). This oar was held by a sailor located towards the stern. As 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) stood on the right side. The helmsman, standing in the middle of the boat and looking ahead, used his right hand to operate it. Traditionally, boats would also moor with the left hand side to the quay to prevent damage to the steering oar, and this was referred to as larboard (loading side), later replaced by port to prevent confusion from the similar sounding words. By keeping to the right, boats pass “port-to-port”, protecting the steering oar. When modern style rudders fixed to the stern were developed, the helmsman was moved amidships (on the centreline), and when steering wheels replaced tillers this generally remained the same.

The "torque" argument doesn't hold much water (sorry...couldn't resist). There are a lot of center console and left steering boats. TRIVIA: Pilar, one of the most famous boats, steers (or steered) on the left.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Right Hand Drive

I agree. If anything, I've noticed torque steer to starboard while in FWD and underway, in which case seating the helm to starboard merely compounds the problem. I notice that I can turn to starboard very easily in my own boat thanks to the torque steer and the fact that I sit on the starboard side of the tiller. Someone made the point here in the forms, I believe, that because of these tendencies helms "should" actually be on the port side of the vessel to help counteract the forces acting to starboard. They also made a good point about the safety benefits of sitting to port. When the helm is on the left side of the boat the pilot can look forward/starboard at their passengers and any oncoming traffic at all times without having to turn their heads. When the helm is to starboard, the pilot is constantly having to turn their head around (over their left shoulder) to monitor/speak with any passengers and therefore away from on coming dangers as well as contributing to toque steer as a result of their weight being to starboard. All that being said, I still sit on the starboard side of my motor as it is the only place I can fit and still get full range of motion, however if/when I ever install a helm I think I'll either install a center console, or mount it on the port side for the reasons above. I've also noticed that some newer tiller motors have the handle smack dab in the middle of the motor so that it can presumably be used from either side.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Right Hand Drive

hello

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Right Hand Drive

this just occured to me, but my center console, a very generic and typical boat at that, has the wheel over toward the port side, with the throttle binacle on the starboard. I tend to sit or stand directly behind the wheel, thus on the port side of the boat; there's room for a passenger next to me.
Of course it's not by much; I'm only a step away from centerline. The windshield has a centerline vertical bar so I guess I subconsiously don't sit directly behind it, even though logically it's insignificant to the view.

Also when you tiller steer, you sit toward starboard and steer with your left hand IIRC.

 

[smclear]

Re: Right Hand Drive

I think the primary reason is to provide iboats forum members an avenue for creating hundreds of 'new' threads to debate this topic for hours on end.

The real reason was IMO documented in post #4.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Right Hand Drive

'idonthaveaname' does have it right. The current benefit to starboard steering position is that you have to yield to everyone in the starboard forward arc. The driver does not have to look through anyone, and if he makes a mistake the other boat goes through him first instead of through the innocent passenger.

 

[Martman]

Re: Right Hand Drive

Thanks for the history lesson guys, very interesting info.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Right Hand Drive

My boat not only has a port side helm (left handled throttle and all), but it also has the helm in the aft cockpit, along with the battery and fuel tanks.

Even with all that, it still doesn't need no stinking whale tail.....LOL.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Right Hand Drive

Smaller INBOARD boats can have a tendency to ride port side down due to the prop torque, and boats approaching from the starboard side are the ones you have to watch out for and yield to, so you can better watch your 'danger quarter' with the helm on the starboard side. -- simple as that.