position of steering wheel - remind me again?

[Harley5229]

I know this was explained and posted on HB but I was wondering if one of you gurus could explain to me again why on jet boats the steering wheel/driver is on the left hand side of the boat? Thanks!

[Stalkaholic]

I think it's because most lake traffic patterns are counterclockwise, which mimic the "drive on the right side of the road" type traffic pattern you see on the road.

Some jets I believe do have a right hand drive, but they're not too common.

[No Butt No Putt]

Actually, I think its to counter the weight of the engine torque.

[sanger rat]

I thought it was becuase of the control cables.:confused:

[syco]

I know this was explained and posted on HB but I was wondering if one of you gurus could explain to me again why on jet boats the steering wheel/driver is on the left hand side of the boat? Thanks!

Not only that you would look like A HOMO with your wheel on the right. Unless you drive a bayliner.

[Wicked Performance Boats]

The placing of the shifter and the foot throttle. Plus most boat drivers are right handed. Except for me!!!! Pat:point

[Wicked Alcoholic]

I think it has to do with were u live. Washington boats are normaly on the rite side do to inbreeding patterns, Here in vegas its all good to the left. LOL Rod. ps Hope all is well and have a happy new year!!!!

[Harley5229]

:lmao

Thanks Rod! Happy New Year to you too. :drnkfr

[jeeper]

Racers turn left.

[Wicked Performance Boats]

It's a known fact that the left side of ur brain controls the right side of ur body and visa versa so it's apparent, that the left side of the boat should control the right side of the boat!!!! Pat:beer

[BUSBY]

I know this was explained and posted on HB but I was wondering if one of you gurus could explain to me again why on jet boats the steering wheel/driver is on the left hand side of the boat? Thanks!

I think the real question is why would someone decide to put the driver's control on the right hand side? (damn bayliner engineers :D)

[Wicked Performance Boats]

I think the real question is why would someone decide to put the driver's control on the right hand side? (damn bayliner engineers :D)

For women drivers!!!!!:D:D:D

[JetBoatCop]

I was told that in prop boats the wheel is on the right to help keep that side of the boat down on take off because the tourqe from the prop will lift that side of the boat. Jets don't have to worry about any of that. Thats just what I was told.

[jetboatperformance]

Left wheel/helm position makes it nice to "nose" into a dock plus its like all the cars and trucks we drive ,conversly son Joshs and my F'inlaws Glastron Jets with the helms on the right are IMO harder to drive /dock ,just feels weird just my 02 Tom

[RiverDave]

Racers turn left.

Welcome to the board Jeeper..

Not to steal the thunder from many people here, but the actual "reasoning" as I know it to be historically is basically what Jeeper just touched on.

Boat races run counter clockwise (turning left). That being said most true race boats had the helm on the left hand side of the boat.

As you come into a corner, your looking at the bottom of the boat to the guy next to you, and you can decide how close you want to get to that more or less. There is also some slightly improved handling characteristics by putting the weight on the left hand side.

They made most jetboats left hand drive becuase they wanted to give the illusion of them being "performance" boats.. (Relax guys I'm just joking)

RD

[RiverDave]

I was told that in prop boats the wheel is on the right to help keep that side of the boat down on take off because the tourqe from the prop will lift that side of the boat. Jets don't have to worry about any of that. Thats just what I was told.

Incidentally, most true "performance" boat mfg's will put the helm on the left of a prop boat as well. Schiada's and that genre of boat the helm is almost ALWAYS on the left hand side.. Larger cruisers it switches back to the right. (Easier to dock with it on the right I believe)

One could argue about torque, but it is very, very minimal.

[jetboatperformance]

As usual a google search provided overwheming info :smackhead I didn't copy and paste but found this interesting :D Tom

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/43031

[Harley5229]

I am going with the racing theory - I like that, makes sense and is a cooler explanation.

[G-Body]

I guess it just depends on the boat. My dads jets have both been right hand drive (78 cobrajet and a 88 Taylor SS) But I have seen both RH and LH Taylors.:hmm

[was thatguy]

The same reason that hetero sexual men wear one earing on the left.

(guys with 2 earings, this doesn't concern you. 2 is OK)
One earing on the right means..........

Tommy

[Wicked Performance Boats]

The same reason that hetero sexual men wear one earing on the left.

(guys with 2 earings, this doesn't concern you. 2 is OK)
One earing on the right means..........

Tommy

I think any MAN that wears any earring looks gay!:hmm

[was thatguy]

I think any MAN that wears any earring looks gay!:hmm

Or mini-skirts.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s170/thomasljr/dumbass.jpg