Left or right hand 'drive'

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Granthsmith

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As someone new to boating and starting to actually look at and get onboard some vessels, I am surprised to find a general mixture of Left and Right (sorry, port and starboard) located helms. Are there any benefits or downsides to either? I just feel as a UK car driver, sitting on the left is going to feel very odd?!
 
Yoh Grantsmith and welcome to this Forum.
You will find that it doesn't matter much which side the steering is on a boat.
As L Snail said
Taint the same as a Car
There are other factors.
When on the water fer instance
The 'road' is moving too!
Good innit!
 
Kawasaki said:
You will find that it doesn't matter much which side the steering is on a boat.
Click to expand...
It actually does, a bit.
It's not by chance that most helms are on stbd side, in fact: that's where you have better visibility on your give way area.
 
MapisM said:
It actually does, a bit.
It's not by chance that most helms are on stbd side, in fact: that's where you have better visibility on your give way area.
Click to expand...

That's very true! But most ships have their wheels central.

My outside helm is port and inside central.
 
ccscott49 said:
But most ships have their wheels central.
Click to expand...
Also true! That's a different league, though.
For helming alone, the ship centreline is clearly the best position. And there are other peeps around, taking care of other matters.
Unusual, the outside helm to port for a proper boat like Englander. Is that due to some other layout restrictions maybe?
 
Last edited:
MapisM said:
Also true! That's a different league, though.
For helming alone, the ship centreline is clearly the best position. And there are other peeps around, taking care of other matters.
Unusual, the outside helm to port for a proper boat like Englander. Is that due to some other layout restrictions maybe?
Click to expand...

One large wooden reason, the mizzen mast/boom is in the centre outside!
That and the gas (3x15kg)bottle locker is on the Stb. side.
 
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Granthsmith said:
As someone new to boating and starting to actually look at and get onboard some vessels, I am surprised to find a general mixture of Left and Right (sorry, port and starboard) located helms. Are there any benefits or downsides to either? I just feel as a UK car driver, sitting on the left is going to feel very odd?!
Click to expand...

No Mate, it won't feel odd
Lefty or Righty.
As a Newbie.
Which you say you are.

The position of the Helm will not phase you.

Have a look around a few Marinas, moorings, jetties etc.
At various vessels,
You will see left and righties all over the place.

Yep, maybe, boats pass each other on the water port to port.

The 'Rules ' say ;)

Kinnel, not many out there know that!

Thinking back
To My first boat 25 years ago , or more probably!

First was a right hooker
Second was as left hooker
Next 15 were a mixture!

Last year I was lucky enough (through mending boats and doing some instruction stuff) to have a go on about 40 different boats.

Left hookers, Right hookers and some in the middle:)
 
"Left hookers, Right hookers and some in the middle"


Come on then Kawi out wth it, do you hang, oops sorry favour, right of left :~)

or are you sitting on the middle fence as it were? I'm a right side man myself
 
Granthsmith said:
As someone new to boating and starting to actually look at and get onboard some vessels, I am surprised to find a general mixture of Left and Right (sorry, port and starboard) located helms. Are there any benefits or downsides to either? I just feel as a UK car driver, sitting on the left is going to feel very odd?!
Click to expand...

There's 2 schools of thought on this. The first one says that when you approach another boat coming from the opposite direction, according to the rules, you should pass each other on the port side (opposite to driving on the road in the UK) and therefore the helm should be on the port side. The other school of thought says that if 2 boats are crossing, the boat which has the other on the starboard side has to give way so, for that reason, it is better to have the helm on the starboard side for better visibility. Personally I favour the latter
Actually what's more important than which side the helm is, is how good the general visibility is from the helm. Before you buy a particular boat, take it out on a seatrial and check that you have good all round visibility from the helm, especially at speed, when the bow will rise, and with the boat turning to port or starboard. Often the helsman's view is impeded as the boat leans over into a turn. Also check that you have a reasonable view astern (behind you) as it is important to keep an eye on what's coming up behind you as well.
 
Granthsmith said:
As someone new to boating and starting to actually look at and get onboard some vessels, I am surprised to find a general mixture of Left and Right (sorry, port and starboard) located helms. Are there any benefits or downsides to either? I just feel as a UK car driver, sitting on the left is going to feel very odd?!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the YBW forums.
The first consideration should be the location you sail from and the direction you head in. Out here living on the East coast and sailing North most starts, I much prefer the wheel on the Port side, this means I am in the shade going North and returning later in the day, still in the shade.

Other factors can be location of batteries, tanks, internal layout of fittings and the list goes on.

At the end of the day it really has no major advantages or disadvantages.

Any boat is nothing more than a collection of compromises.

Avagoodweekend......
 
A factor in favour of a starboard helm position on a single engine power boat is that, with a standard prop, you will want to dock starboard-to. This is because when you apply throttle in reverse to slow the boat it will also kick the stern in toward the dock.
If tide or wind determine that you should dock port side-to you need to keep this factor in mind.
All in all, little to choose. On a very beamy boat a centre position (like a ship) would be best because it wouldn't place you at a huge disadvantage when docking on the side away from the helm.
 
As a complete newbie I thought the same thing, but having driven a few boats now, left, right and centre, it doesn't really make much difference, you just adapt to each layout. Like others have said, all round visibility and position of controls makes more difference in my limited experience.
 
With small single proped runaboats/ski boats the tendancy from the tourqe of the engine with standard. rotation prop is to twist the craft clockwise .[when looking from the bow] Therefore the boat will be twisting against the weight of the helmsman if he is seated on the starboard side. This does not apply to single duo.prop or twin engine setups.
 
Salty John said:
A factor in favour of a starboard helm position on a single engine power boat is that, with a standard prop, you will want to dock starboard-to. This is because when you apply throttle in reverse to slow the boat it will also kick the stern in toward the dock.
Click to expand...

Me awd Nimbus has a 'left hand' prop.
She goes to starboard in astern
I berth port side to.
'Interesting' on windy days!
 
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