Why are Outboards Made to be Operated with the Left Hand?

[thinwater]

By tradition, boats are right hand drive. I think it is that simple.

[Ulstue]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

WTF?? I've always seated myself on the port tube and driven with my right hand on the tiller and throttle. Why would you not do so? Works fine for me!

Jim

That's how to do it. Because in case that you fall backwards, you will set the throttle automaticly to slow. If one is sitting on the starboard tube, one gives in such a case full speed.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by thinwater

By tradition, boats are right hand drive. I think it is that simple.

I think thinwater's tradition answer is most likely the correct one,- helmsman at the starboard and port to the dock.

[rpjn59]

Here's one for you, it's traditional to board and egress a boat from the starboard side. So when you approach said mother ship your facing it, to port and your dominate hand/arm, for righties, the dominate population, is available to grab or throw a line..it all works perfectly. As far as traffic goes, no matter which way you face there is always a back side grasshopper...but I here what your saying, your back is to the traffic that your suppose to giving way to.

This reminds me of the schooner that was hit by the fishing boat a couple of years ago. The captain of the schooner got to watch the whole event, but he had right of way, bad dicision and ignored the exception part of that law in the regs., avoid contact, even if you have right away.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by rpjn59

Here's one for you, it's traditional to board and egress a boat from the starboard side...................
.................

...... and I thought the tradition was the opposite with the term "port" originating from the side of the boat put to the dock (the port).

[SqPeg]

Decades of motorcycling makes the right hand throttle backwards for me. Too hard to unlearn.

[Shrew]

Consider this.....

Most people are right handed. As a result, I would expect most people to be comfortable with the tiller in their right hand. It is my believe that this is one of the reasons that the 'give way' vessel, does so when the 'stand-on' vessel is approaching between 12 - 4. From that position, the helmsman of the stand-on vessel would have his back to the give-way vessel. Alternatively, the give-way vessel, with their tiller in their right-hand would have full view of the stand-on vessel.

So based on this, it is assumed that the tiller is expected to be in the Right hand, not the left hand.

So, why then do many sit on the starboard side of the vessel when operating a small outboard with their left hand??

I sit on the port tube and steer the tiller of the OB with my right hand.

[George DuBose]

Gee, don't you guys know that Mr. Johnson was left-handed...

[boatman61]

[QUOTE=44'cruisingcat;2349548]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

All the bicycles I've ridden had the front brake on the right.

My 'Continente' mountain bike I bought two years ago to keep my knees in shape when not sailing has front left, rear right..

[Diesel Bill]

Originally Posted by Suijin

As a lefty I appreciate the one product on the planet designed for me. So all you whiners can go back to your scissors, three ring binders, ball point pens, number pads on your keyboards, one-piece school desks, can openers, CC swipers (always mounted angled right), measuring tapes (numbers are upside down for lefties) and stop complaining!

As a fellow lefty I heartily concur. Really for me it feels so natual with tiller in left hand. Otherwise I use either hand with tools equally well.

[sirfer]

This is the reason I was told, and it kinda makes sense...
Most people are right handed....with the throttle in the right hand, the natural actin of the wrist is to turn away from you. In an emergency or panic situation, if the natural action is followed, the boat will speed up, potentially causing a collision or worse. With the throttle in the left hand, the natural reaction will be in the opposite direction and will decrease the boat speed, rather than cause a sudden acceleration.

[Diesel Bill]

My 1st outboard was an old 1948 Johnson 5 HP twin I found for $10.00 back in 1963-4. I was about 13-14 years old then. I got it running sometimes on one cylinder and some times on two cylinders. It had no neutral or reverse. You had to spin the entire motor around to backup. The tiller handle I think was mounted in the middle and the throttle lever was on the front of the power head. Talk about doing gymnastics to maneuver with that thing. Had to remember to kill the ignition before crashing into the dock. Those were the days.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Shrew

So, why then do many sit on the starboard side of the vessel when operating a small outboard with their left hand??

Consider that the shift lever and fuel valves on many engines are on the starboard side of the cowl.

I honestly never thought this was a problem. I generally switch based on which side the waves are coming from (I like to be on the windward side). If I'm alone I generally sit on the seat in the center, facing forward. I still use my left hand.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Perhaps:
As a standard right-hand prop turns, the port side (left) of the boat tends to get physically pushed down in the water by 2˚ or 3˚. If the driver is on the starboard side (right) of the boat his weight tends to balance that and make it level.

Hi Gord,
The torque issue on larger OB's that still have tiller steering is important.

My experience when sitting on the Starboarde tube is that if you are on the plane, the tiller wants to swivel away from you.

So again I find it more comfortable to straight arm across... cup the throttle with my left hand and remain relaxed and physically balanced. (Always with safety switch attached to wrist)

Doing long exploration trips in Alaska and BC with large OB tenders, I found sitting on starboard side far more balanced, relaxed and ergonomic from a physical operations point.

Driving those large exploration inflatables with no pax, was always a bit overpowered and you had to be careful.

[skipper53]

Guessing that the,majority of the,world is right handed and wanted to use their strong side for the starter rope before electric start was,common. That would,leave the left hand free to manage the throttle and steering especially on those models,that don't have nuetral/shift.