Super User retiredbosn Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Right side steering traces back to two things. Before motors, the steering oar was on the right, and boats moored with the dock to the left (where the term "port" originates. Later, as motors were used, having the extra weight on the right to counter the effect of a clockwise rotating prop worked best. Franco's correct and scholarly answer prompted me to start this thread. Rules no googling first correct answer will recieve a new Cavitron buzz bait. I'll post the answer and winner by 4 est today What is the origination of the term starboard? 1 Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 retiredbosn, I'm retirednavy, so I disqualify myself, but I want to tell you appreciate your generosity! I will tell you that as a retiredswo, we still haven't figured out how to beat propeller walk Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Don't know, but the original term for port was larboard, or something close. Quote
Super User Solution fishinfiend Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Solution Posted March 31, 2015 Starboard originated from the side a vessel is steered from Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Extra credit: Is the port running light green because of the bulb color or the globe color? Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 ding, ding, ding sorry for the jack, bosn. You may have your thread back, now. Quote
Super User retiredbosn Posted March 31, 2015 Author Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Many ppl believe that term starboard was the result of nighttime celestial navigation. That the navigator kept the sextant, charts and took bearings from the right side of the ship. That there was literally a star board kept on the right side, which over time became the starboard side. However its the result of the Celtic terminology that literally means right steer. Before the use of a rudder, ancient seafarers used basically a long oar for steerage. Since the majority of ppl are right handed the oarsman stood on the centerline and steered with their right hand, resulting in the steerage oar being located right of the centerline. Which is also why back in the day ships moored portside, to keep from crushing the steering oar. The original term was steorbord, the side where you steer. On a side note Franco is partially correct that port was originally called larboard, the side where cargo was loaded. Originally it was baeoboard, meaning backside of boat as the oarsman would have his back turned to that side. Fishnfriend pm me your mailing address and I'll mail you the buzzbait, unless you looked it up! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 If only right of way on the water was as easy, lol. Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Okay, most boats are steered from the right, while our vehicles are driven from the left side, while we drive on the right side of the road. In England, and other European countries, the cars are driven from the right side on the left side of the road. Are their boat steered from the left? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 31, 2015 Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Most other European countries drive on the right, like us. It's Britain, and her "colonies" when cars were invented (Australia, India, etc.), and Japan that are the left drivers. I'm sure someone will do a google search to show me the exceptions, but that's pretty much it. Quote
Super User retiredbosn Posted March 31, 2015 Author Super User Posted March 31, 2015 Okay, most boats are steered from the right, while our vehicles are driven from the left side, while we drive on the right side of the road. In England, and other European countries, the cars are driven from the right side on the left side of the road. Are their boat steered from the left? No, see Franco's quote in first post, basically nautical tradition. Quote
Super User fishinfiend Posted April 1, 2015 Super User Posted April 1, 2015 Thank you so much!!! Just pm'ed you Quote
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