Port or Starboard helm ????

My trident was set up with Port helm. It has mounting points for the controls on both sides. As I will be replacing the wood dash with a new one I have the option of using either side. Seems a lot of early boats used Port side but what's the real story of the change to all Starboard side?? I've heard a lot of stories but would like to know the real facts. LOL Barry

[Helmar]

Port or Starboard helm, Why ?

My trident was set up with Port helm. It has mounting points for the controls on both sides. As I will be replacing the wood dash with a new one I have the option of using either side. Seems a lot of early boats used Port side but what's the real story of the change to all Starboard side?? I've heard a lot of stories but would like to know the real facts. LOL Barry

Good question. I have heard one explanation about why but forgotten it.

Marty, Tim, Bill, you guys should know why.

[Skagitguy]

Berry, You could have one control on each side and jump back and forth between them. That would be fun. I heard that after 1959 all of the boat mfg went to the Starboard side maybe because of the rotation of the motors ? Someone i'am sure will pipe up who knows the real reason. Chuck

Chuck
I could put the steering in the middle and be able to fish off either side?

Berry, You could have one control on each side and jump back and forth between them. That would be fun. I heard that after 1959 all of the boat mfg went to the Starboard side maybe because of the rotation of the motors ? Someone i'am sure will pipe up who knows the real reason. Chuck

Bill

Thank you very much. Not even close to the stories I'd been told before. This actually makes sense from a safety standpoint. With safety in mind I'm rebuilding the dash with Starboard Helm. Tomorrow I get to price the new piece of wood for the dash. That should be a heart stopper.

[Captain Jack]

Port vs Starboard helm

My trident was set up with Port helm. It has mounting points for the controls on both sides. As I will be replacing the wood dash with a new one I have the option of using either side. Seems a lot of early boats used Port side but what's the real story of the change to all Starboard side?? I've heard a lot of stories but would like to know the real facts. LOL Barry

Bill's got a good point re: keeping an eye on the "danger zone", but the way I heard it, the switch to Starboard helms was primarily due to the availability of outboards with larger horsepower ratings. The placement of the driver on the Starboard side helps minimize the torque reaction from a right-hand prop trying to roll the boat to Port.

The Cap'n

[Tim_Mattson]

Left hand drive

Barry,
I wasn`t born when most of this was evolving but the steering torque issue was my first thought as to why.
The Navigation aspect makes more sense.
I kept the left hand locale for the Tyee of Ken Cook and had to get a U-flex system so it could have the cable move the opposite direction at the motor as I used the shortest route to the motor.This meant the transom drag link is mounted reverse but we saved 6` feet in cable length.18` versus 24` made a big difference in price ,plus it should work better with less resistance.
Hopefully the new Yamaha won`t twist it too bad,a 4 blade prop may make it worse so we won`t go there.........
My big Yamaha 115 2 stroke (loaded with 4 blade SS wheel)would push my left hand gunnel way down if throttled up and trimmed in too far.
Trimmed motors should allow for less torque when dialed in right,the older motors didn`t see that option for a few more years.
TimM

[halffast32]

I've got 2 boats with port steering. 67 Carlson Contender and 60 powercat. The torque is really noticeable on the Carlson. I have to scootch to the middle when I'm solo! The cat is less but still there. I'm wondering if left turn only circle racing had anything to do with it? I'd also heard that when they did away with the Merc dockbusters (lefthand rotation) they went to starboard helms. More questions than answers!

[Tim McCrain]

I've got 2 boats with port steering. 67 Carlson Contender and 60 powercat. The torque is really noticeable on the Carlson. I have to scootch to the middle when I'm solo! The cat is less but still there. I'm wondering if left turn only circle racing had anything to do with it? I'd also heard that when they did away with the Merc dockbusters (lefthand rotation) they went to starboard helms. More questions than answers!

Gordon, I have to scoot to the middle in my Sabrecraft when I'm solo to trim it out too, but I thought it was 'cause I am too fat. Now I know it's torque, yeah, that's it .. torque ... Actually, my helm is on the starboard side so it probably is the weight thing.

Seriously, tho, I've read several explanations for it, but the one Bill mentioned has always made the most sense to me. If you're going to yield to starboard then you should have clear vision in that direction.

Hi Sparrow Hawk,here you go right in the center like on this james bond boat.

[Helmar]

No matter what side your Helm is on, its Always on the Wrong side when you go to dock it. Seems like Every time....

[McSkagit Tim Jones]

Port or Starboard Helm????

The propeller torque answer is a good one, but as I look at older outboards, I see some with right-hand propellers (Johnson & Evinrude and some Mercs) and some with left-hand propellers (some Mercs, Scott Attwater and others).

For the Johnson & Evinrude powered boats, put the helm on stbd. Left-hand prop motors, put the helm on port.

I tend to think that because the pleasure boat industry was so heavily influenced by the automotive industry, they tended to put the helm to port so as to conform to what people were used to.....

Eventually the starboard "danger zone" concept took hold and from then on the helms are all to starboard.

My two cents worth....

McSkagit

[Wally]

Old Merc shop manual says....

My old Mercury shop manual (section revised 1963) says to mount the steering wheel on the side that will:

"help to overcome engine torque caused by direction of propeller rotation."

That's what Orrin Sande, who sold us our Mark 35a in 1959, told us.

The confusion might be due to the old OMC motors where their smaller torque didn't matter. Gosh, did I say that? OK, I'll go back under my rock for a while.

[ChuckB]

Wally, the 3 cyl 75 on the little Glasspar in my Avatar made me stand as far over to starboard as I could at full throttle and 45mph. And the boat still dumped the port side at least 12" lower than the starboard. OMC TORQUE!

[Wally]

Chuck,

Yep, in the old days, the Johnson/Evinrudes actually had the reputation for good torque, power and water-skier pulling ability. The Mercs were valued for top end speed (and cheated on their HP ratings, according to Orrin Sande).

Which side do the old runabout and hydro racers have their wheel?

The Best to All!