2007-02-18 16:20:34 · 8 answers · asked by buzzsag 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
You don't, it depends on the direction the prop turns.
The idea is to offset the natural tendency of a boat to twist in the opposite of the prop turn direction.
If the prop turns clockwise (look at the boat from the back) the rest of the boat would want to turn counter clockwise so you weight the boat on the right to reduce that tendency. If the prop turns counter clockwise then you weight the boat on the left.
If you have two engines and counter rotating props it does not matter.
Since most outboards turn clockwise most boats using outboards seat the driver on the right.
2007-02-19 06:07:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
U.S.S Brewton drove from the center, to slightly port(left) side. and had a tendency to hang a left? when running wide open? dont remember just remember helping pull the steering hyd. motors and doing an overhaul after the 2nd or 3rd 1 on a certain trip to panama when i was the only person in the eng.space. id been onboard less or right at 1 month. let me see i think i told the old man" yes sir we got alarms going off in aft steering and we are already on it" after i quit stammering.
2007-02-18 16:26:38 · answer #2 · answered by l8ntpianist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Maine where I live, a lot of commercial lobster boats steer and operate from the left side (port).
2007-02-19 01:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by Charles B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
same reason as you drive on the right (or left) side of the road (depending where you live)
if there wasn't a rule about what side to drive on, everyone would be bashing into everyone all the time.
why the right side not the left? whatever the reason, sooner or later you have to choose one side that everyone drives on, and the right side just happened to take it.
2007-02-18 16:28:14 · answer #4 · answered by hot.turkey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you do not... I owned a 30 ft Chriss Craft... the lower steering controls were on the left, just like a car.... the pilot house (upper controls) were mounted in the center of the boat. thus the term CENTER CONSOLE.
2007-02-18 16:26:42 · answer #5 · answered by michael_lovin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SHIPPING LANES ARE DIFFERENT THAN A MOTORIZED VEHICLE ROAD. SO SOMETIMES YOU SEE THEM ON THE RIGHT, CENTER OR LEFT. ALSO DEPENDS ON THE MANUFACTURER OF THAT CERTAIN VESSEL. MY BOAT IS ON THE LEFT.
2007-02-19 04:50:37 · answer #6 · answered by INFOBUSTER 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It;s the same rules as driving a car.
2007-02-18 16:24:17 · answer #7 · answered by Heather 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
2007-02-18 16:27:22 · answer #8 · answered by ihate c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋