Very informative...thanks!


"Mys Terry" wrote in message
...
On 7 Jun 2006 10:41:50 -0700, "Tim" wrote:

Why do most boats have "right hand" steering? Almost all cars in the
US are set up with left hand steering and we drive on the right side of
the road, obviously for passing purposes. I would think that small
craft would have the same set up.

it is traditional only? or is there some mystical reasoning for it?

Thanks!
Tim

Starboard:
The Vikings called the side of their ship its board, and they placed
the steering oar, the "star" on the right side of the ship, thus that
side became known as the "star board." It's been that way ever since.
And, because the oar was in the right side, the ship was tied to the
dock at the left side. This was known as the loading side or
"larboard". Later, it was decided that "larboard" and "starboard" were
too similar, especially when trying to be heard over the roar of a
heavy sea, so the phrase became the "side at which you tied up to in
port" or the "port" side.