They put the helm on the right hand side because the traffic
approaching you from that direction has the right of way, and
it's important that you be able to keep an eye on it.

nah. outboards have had rh turning props since loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong
before the Rules of the Road (originally an east coast yacht club's racing
rules). Ole Evinrude's engines (built in Milwaukee and sold to and for
Midwestern fishermen operating on Midwestern lakes a three or four day train
ride from the east coast) turned clockwise (from the top) because most men are
right handed (and this made it easier to hand start the engine turning cw) and
a cw turning engine could have a cheaper, longer-lived thrust bearing in the
lower unit if the prop turned right, thus lifting the right side of the boat
from the reaction to the torque of the prop. Therefore, the boat operator sat
on the right side of the boat. Still true to this day for outboards.