When you are driving a car, the steering wheel is on the left side. Most people in North America are used to this. But when you are driving a boat, the steering wheel is on the right side. Most people from other parts of the world are used to this.
Why is a boat steering wheel on the right? It’s designed that way to add weight to the boat’s right side. Read on more to know about this interesting fact.
Why is a Boat Steering Wheel on the Right
Technical Reasons
The primary reason has to do with the way boats are designed.
Visibility – The engine is usually located at the back of the boat, on the right side. This means that the steering wheel needs to be on the right side so that the driver can see it.
The steering way placement is also related to the way that boats were originally powered. Sailboats were powered by the wind, and so they had to be steered into the wind to go forward.
This meant that the steering wheel had to be on the right side so that the captain could see where he was going.
Safety reason – If the steering wheel were on the left side, it would be very easy for someone to accidentally fall out of the boat while trying to adjust the wheel. Having it on the right side makes it much more difficult to fall out.
Navigation – When you are looking at a map, north is always at the top. But when you are out on the open water, north can be anywhere. So it is helpful to have the steering wheel on the right side so that you can keep track of which way you are going.
Boat mooring – However, the most likely reason why a boat’s steering wheel is on the right side is because of the way that boats are typically moored.
When a boat is moored on the right side (facing the bow), the steering wheel needs to be on the right side for the boat to be able to move forward. If the steering wheel were on the left side, the boat would be moving in circles.
Historical Reasons
Some people believe that the reason boats have steering wheels on the right side is because most people are right-handed. This would make it easier for them to steer with their right hand.
Others believe that it has to do with the fact that most people in North America drive on the right side of the road. Since boats are similar to cars, it makes sense that they would have the steering wheel on the right side as well.
Are all Boats Right-Hand Drive?
The answer to this question is a bit complicated. In short, the answer is “it depends.”
There are a few different factors that come into play when determining whether or not a boat is a right-hand drive.
The first factor is the country in which the boat is registered.
In countries where cars are driven on the left side of the road, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, boats are also typically registered on the left side.
Therefore, the steering wheel is on the right-hand side of the boat, and the boat is considered a right-hand drive.
However, in countries where cars are driven on the right side of the road, such as the United States and Japan, boats are usually registered on the right side. This means that the steering wheel is on the left-hand side of the boat, and the boat is considered a left-hand drive.
The second factor that comes into play is the type of boat
Sailboats are almost always right-hand drive, regardless of the country in which they are registered. This is because most people are right-handed, and it is easier to control the sails with your right hand if the steering wheel is on the right-hand side.
Powerboats, on the other hand, can be either right- or left-hand drives depending on the country of registration.
Finally, some boats are designed to be driven from either side.
These boats typically have two steering wheels, one on each side. This allows the boat to be driven from either the left or the right side, depending on the preference of the driver.
So, to answer the question, there is no definitive answer.
It depends on the country of registration and the type of boat. However, in general, sailboats are right-hand drives while powerboats can be either right or left-hand drives. Some boats are designed to be driven from either side, but these are relatively rare.
Conclusion
While there are many reasons why a boat’s steering wheel is on the right, one of the most important reasons is safety. Having the wheel on the right side of the vessel, allows the captain to have better control and visibility when steering.
While there may be different opinions about why a boat’s steering wheel is located where it is, there are many good reasons for it to stay put. Do you have any thoughts or comments about this?