Silly question .... Helm position ....

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You ought to write a book Nigel. Would be a best seller for sure /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Btw......several tv programs about cars, and their history etc. are where I got the information about which side of the road we drive on
Maybe Henry and William had ridden stage coaches?

One this is for sure.....we can't ask them.
 
I have seen a lot of older motor boats with the helm on the port side, I can see this might be useful on narrow rivers when passing port to port. You see a lot more starboard helm newer boats.

As the American boats are mostly stbd helm I guessed our manufacturers did it to help sell exports.

I like the reply about the US and British cars. But dont American cars have the steering on the offside just like us /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Starboard side for the wheel...

It all seems to be down to the designer on the day he drew the boat . At least one American power cruiser ( Hatteras?) has the downstairs helm to port, and the flybridge helm to starboard ! `course their bouyage is the wrong way round anyway - maybe one sides for leaving port, and the other for returning !

" Red right returning " indeed !
Pete
 
My life in a nutshell ...

Spent most years of my life travelling .... before and during working life ...

Merchant Navy .... on Shuttle ships for Iran then Iraq, guns and ammo for Col. North to C. America ...... various ships with accidents and incidents !! - NOT MINE I add.
Marine Surveying ..... Saudi Arabia, Venezuela ... Russia etc.

Plus playing around on being on boats since 5 yrs old ....

I can honestly say that life is generally not boring - except when I'm away from boats !!!!
 
Isn't starboard a b@st@rdisation of "steer board" ? And should not the wheel therefore be on the starboard side by tradition ?

Interestingly, did you know that Port is a relatively recent name for what was formerly called Larboard ? Admiral Fitzroy ( of The Beagle, also of the Meteorological Office ) upset his crew by imposing this new fangled name when in command.
 
If you intend sailing from the same port, and in much the same direction, then the wheel should be placed to provide you the best protection.

We live on the east coast of Australia, and almost always sail to the north and almost always in the morning, returning will almost always late in the afternoon sailing south, be it the same day or weeks later.

The steering wheel on the cat was located to the left so that you had the shade from the main going out and again when heading home.

So, if like us you sail more in one direction than others, locate your steering for the best protection.

Andavagoodweekend......
 
I've just returned from the boat club, where I've been teased about my post. However I may yet have the last laugh, and add to the confusion.

I was told by a retired and experienced seaman, that there are part of the world, North America being one where in non-international water, boats pass starboard to starboard.

I have to take this on face value of course, as I have no confirmation.

Funny old game, this boating lark, isn't it LOL.
 
USA .... ??

You may be confusing with the buoyage system ?? where they have the buoys arse about face to rest of the world ... we have IALA system A ---- they of course have to be different and have IALA system B ...... plus where they have US Navy and put a little money such as Philipines etc.- you can have "hybrid" systems " ........

But Stbd to Stbd .... only place I can think that even may get anywhere near to that is possibly an Intracostal waterway somewhere with a local rule ??????
 
Actually it's not a silly question Nigel but you sure are getting silly answers from people who don't know their colregs!
My boat (Prout Snowgoose Cat) is wide enough to make a difference and it has the helm or the starboard side. This gives me a wonderful view forward when I am on a starboard tack and generally have right of way but I can't see diddly squat through the ginormous deck sweeping genoa on my port side from there, especially when sat on my nice helm seat which I often am. Having got used to it it just means I have to get up of my A and walk over to the other side when in crowded waters like the Solent and look around the genoa from there periodically. At least this situation is when I have right of way and theoretically there is less danger from that quarter. (I am invariably on autopilot anyway being a lazy b) On the other hand when on a port tack I cant see through the genoa on my starboard side from the port side at all and often (especially when sheeted in hard to windward get a better view from peering out of the starboard side around the genoa to see approaching vessels from that quarter and can see clearly to port anyway from my seat so I guess there is a kind of twisted logic for a starboard helm after all in that I get a better view from there when I am generally on a "give way" tack.
 
As most people on boats appear to be either drinking, or drunk, the 'avoid collision' rule usually applies, with myself having to avoid the collision, despite being on the correct right hand side of the river, and so allowing the approaching boat to pass on my port side.

But the questions still remain. Why are people telling me boats pass starboard to starboard in some areas; and if correct, where are they?
 
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