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Left or Right hand side steering? Why?

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Left or Right hand side steering? Why?

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Old 01-09-2014 | 08:02 PM
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I remember asking this question loooong ago and my Dad and Uncles explained it this way: in a single engine boat the rotation of the crank and prop tended to raise the starboard side of the boat. To balance this effect the helm was placed on the starboard side to compensate for the torque lift. I always figured twin engine boats had the helm starboard also simply to avoid re-tooling for a port side location.
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Old 01-09-2014 | 08:27 PM
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Mostly foot throttles don't need right handed throttle

Last edited by schnydo; 01-09-2014 at 08:41 PM.
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Old 01-09-2014 | 08:29 PM
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Let be honest... nobody knows...
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Old 01-09-2014 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by sprink58
I remember asking this question loooong ago and my Dad and Uncles explained it this way: in a single engine boat the rotation of the crank and prop tended to raise the starboard side of the boat. To balance this effect the helm was placed on the starboard side to compensate for the torque lift. I always figured twin engine boats had the helm starboard also simply to avoid re-tooling for a port side location.
This is the main theory behind it all but oddly enough the last 6 out of 7 boats I've had all had port side steering.
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Old 01-10-2014 | 08:11 AM
  #15  
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A conspiracy it is, blame it on Obama
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Old 01-10-2014 | 09:49 AM
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This one from Miami has a Port side helm and LH rotation drive...

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Old 01-10-2014 | 11:28 AM
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Noah had a starboard helm so he could oversee the animals being loaded on the right side of the Ark. It's in the Bible.
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Old 01-10-2014 | 11:55 AM
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and after thousands of years of discussions......

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.... some engineering nerd said......" let's split the difference" and....
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...... The Center Console was created.....

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Old 01-11-2014 | 04:48 AM
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Hi!

In a single performance boat your steering wheel is on your starboard side to offset prop torque. Normally your battery too to balance the boat running high on the pad / keel.

Cheers Toffen
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Old 01-11-2014 | 08:22 AM
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Spent my entire lift driving right hand side boats with throttles to the right. Most higher performance boats put throttles between driver and left side passenger, probably so a qualified throttle man can sit to the left.

While I'd prefer my future cat to have throttles to my right, if Tres Marine wants to teach me to sit on right and use left hand on throttles, that's what I shall do.
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