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

Interesting...

I thought it would having something to do with the rotation of the
prop and its force. Putting the weight (YOU) on that one side
would balance it out....


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

wrote:
Interesting...

I thought it would having something to do with the rotation of the
prop and its force. Putting the weight (YOU) on that one side
would balance it out....



Very much a factor in small, single engine runabouts.

Not a factor in larger boats, where shifting a couple of hundred pounds
from one side to another will not make a significant difference in the
trim.

Most pilothouse boats and boats with interior helms will favor a
starboard or centerline location for the helm. Boats with starboard
lower helms will have either starboard or centerline upper helms, (as a
general tendency). Port helms are rare enough that the exceptions prove
the rule.