Why Port Side of Channel?

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Gemini Dreams

Starboard to starboard = small sailboat continues north.

And five Searays hard aground?

[NOLA_sailing]

I came across this thread while searching for something else. While reading I noted that no one mentioned a very significant reason why boaters tend to incorrectly go "green to green" in a channel.

Most small pleasure craft (sailboats excluded) have the steering column on the starboard side of the vessel so that the weight of the skipper can counteract the rotational force (Moment? Torque? Voodoo?) caused by the prop. Of course, most recreational boaters do not know this fact and assume that the location of the helm is an indicator of which "side of the road" they must adhere to.

At least this was the explanation my father gave me as a kid when teaching me to use our ski boat. Of course, all other boats on the water were either "crazies" (if going too faster than he was) or "idiots" (if going slower).