Port vs Starboard controls

[NoOtherWay]

I’ve noticed most performance boats from the 70’s, 80’s, and most of the 90’s are controlled ( driven) from the port side. Then towards the late 90’s, the switch to the Starboard side.

Why the change?

 

[PlanB]

My West coast built boats have been port side (last one was an 01). My east coast built boats have been starboard.

 

[Outdrive1]

Foot throttle is easier on the port.


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[Bpracing1127]

Most people are right handed and need that hand to control.

 

[Backlash]

I thought it was because of the cable routing from helm to engine......

 

[RiverDave]

I’ve noticed most performance boats from the 70’s, 80’s, and most of the 90’s are controlled ( driven) from the port side. Then towards the late 90’s, the switch to the Starboard side.

Why the change?

“Most” boats were rigged starboard. Jetboats and a lot of v drives are rigged port. There has been a hundred stories as to why.. but the one I always liked the best kind of stems from the race on Sunday sell on Monday lineage which used to be the way it was back then.

They’d put the controls in the left so when they were racing circle boats the driver was on the inside of the turn. He could decide how close he wanted to get to the bottom of the boat on the inside lane.

There’s other stories about counter balancing prop torque and a million others.. but I personally always liked that one. From a maritime perspective it does make more sense, when you are passing boats both captains are near each other etch.

From a docking perspective in most cases it would make sense to have the captain in the starboard side. At least on the local waterways.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Foot throttle is easier on the port.


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Small boats rigged with foot throttles are off the port side so the driver doesn't have to sit sideways in the seat. Hand controls are rigged starboard so you can drive with your left hand and run the throttle with your right, a natural arrangement do to how our cars are built.

 

[guest hs]

My Cole steers on the stbd side with a foot pedal and I hate it!

 

[Hullbilly]

Never had a boat with controls on the left, I’d imagine for loading unloading it be much easier to see the driver of the tow vehicle.

 

[Uncle Dave]

The big change came with the rise of sterndrives as a propulsion system

Starboard drive was recommended by Mercury for a long time - shortest path for shift cable.

UD

 

[old rigger]

Starboard steering and controls all came from the flow of rivers and fishermen. Going up or down river with controls being on the right, it was easier for one person to pull up to a dock and manage his boat by himself. Of course they were much smaller boats but it's all relative.

The rise of sterndrives has been going on since 1895 when the first one was developed, in France, but Mercury was one of the last manufacturers to get into that business when compared to how many others were building them back in the 30s. Even Johnson built an I/O in the 30's.

The most successful was George Riley's I/O. So successful Volvo infringed on his patents and then claimed to have invented the sterndrive. His drive actually had trim incorporated into the design. Hand operated though, not hydraulic.

Johnson drive

 

[guest hs]

This is my take on why the steering is on different sides.
1. Jet Drive steering on the left when the cable comes down the left side of the boat the steering tube also exits the left side of the transom adaptor (shorter run)
2. Outboard steering on the right the cable runs down the right side of the boat and has to enter the steering tilt tube on the right side of the engine (shorter run)
3. Sterndrive steering on the right the cable runs down the right side of the boat and enters the steering tube on the back inside of the transom on the right side (shorter run)
4. Inboard steering on the right the cable either runs down the center under the floor or the right side gunnel then into the steering tube and enters the it on the right side.
5. Vdrive flat or cruiser I have never rigged one from scratch or paid attention if you could set one up with the steering on the right side but all the ones I have owned or worked on steer on the left side. (unsure of this )
Don't get me wrong with running a longer cable it could be put on the opposite side but why do that? My Cole steers on the left side and I feel like I'm driving in fucking Englad or somewhere foreign.

 

[Racey]

Boat on starboard always has the right of way, with the helm on the stbd, the captain that must give way (the port vessel) has a clear view of the vessels he must give way for.

port controls come from circle boat racing, and foot throttles like OD1 and the rest said, they are unconventional in the maritime world.

 

[pwerwagn]

I have 2 boats right now, one is port and one is stbd. Both foot pedal outboards. I prefer the port steer setup but don't really have any glaring reason why, it just feels right. I have to admit though, the shifter being in the right hand is much more second nature than it being in the left hand. Kinda like a stranger at first...but then you get used to it quick.

 

[Ziggy]

Treadmill/Plane kinda question. Many theories.
Logic tells you it's because foot throttle or weight distribution for racing reasons.
Maybe but it seems there is no clear answer.

 

[GETBOATS]

Propeller driven boats, Stern Drive and Outboard that are right hand rotation, (most are) will want to twist the boats hull in a counter clockwise rotation, knowing you will always have a driver, place him on the right to help counteract this. Years ago, I asked that question of a very well know performance builder that placed the driver on the left, to my surprise he said it was easier to install the foot throttle. Also mentioning driver should really be on the right.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I have 2 boats right now, one is port and one is stbd. Both foot pedal outboards. I prefer the port steer setup but don't really have any glaring reason why, it just feels right. I have to admit though, the shifter being in the right hand is much more second nature than it being in the left hand. Kinda like a stranger at first...but then you get used to it quick.

Same here. I actually converted mine from hand to foot throttle a few years ago. I built a mount to level off the bottom of the hull so the pedal isnt in the center of the seat. I wouldn't want a boat that frees up much at all at speed without a foot throttle. I feel it gives WAY better control.

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[nrbr]

Theres left and right hand drive props in vdrive depending on if you're driving off the snout or flywheel end of the crank.

 

[HBCraig]

My eliminator was a left side drive, my Ultra is a right side.

I prefer the left side to be honest.