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Something I've wondered....
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. |
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