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

[StuM]

Originally Posted by SVNeko

Every thread ultimately comes around to cat bashing.

Nice one - good job I'd just put down my coffee mug!

[Stu Jackson]

Does this win the "Long Winter Coming to a Merciful End" award?

[coastalexplorer]

OK StuM Good point...So perhaps Marston copied Evinrude, Who followed the traditional old practice of off setting the engine to the port side. It is now over 100 years ago since internal combustion engines were first fitted into boats instead of Steam Engines. So the true reasoning is most likely lost in time.

Walkerbay boats put the outboard engine bracket mounting pad dead centre; A bad design choice....
So what ever side the tiller was on, using a standard out board. The tiller jabs the operator in the back. (This then on a small boat is another legitimate argument for placing the engine off centre.)

I have custom made new tillers out of bent stainless steel tube to avoid this discomfort. Attachment is via an aluminum sand casting with the boss 90 degrees from standard, Thus one foot to port before the bend extends the handle forward. I also have custom made 36 " long Villiers throttle cables,

[rpjn59]

Skipper53, that reasoning leaves you cross armed however it does open door for new logic. When your right hand is toast and fingers are open blisters from pulling the starter cord, once you do have it started, the boating gods have mercy on you and you have a left hand to operate the tiller as you power off with same and tears in your eyes. Usually, in my case because I forgot to put the safety clip in the kill switch.

[s/v Jedi]

you all bought left-hand models instead of right-hand. Geez...

[IslandHopper]

Have heard good things about the USTAHOT outboard.....

[Sandero]

This is a crazy discussion!

I sit on stdbd.... I am right handed. I pull the start chord from my left side across my body and that feels natural. I trained myself to turn the throttle with my left hand. I don't think about it anymore. Most maneuvers don't need much tiller movement... but the more extreme turn do. It seems to me that you have more steering "range" with the till on the opposite site from where you sit. But maybe this is no biggie. I think I will be more mindful of what side people drive their dinks from.... just out of curiosity.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

you all bought left-hand models instead of right-hand. Geez...

That USTAHOT outboard is just perfect Nick[emoji1]

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

You must have a wide dingy, no room to turn to starboard on many that way. Where will your legs and knees be in this picture?

In general, my legs and knees are just below my waist.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Sandero

This is a crazy discussion!

I sit on stdbd.... I am right handed. I pull the start chord from my left side across my body and that feels natural. I trained myself to turn the throttle with my left hand. I don't think about it anymore. Most maneuvers don't need much tiller movement... but the more extreme turn do. It seems to me that you have more steering "range" with the till on the opposite site from where you sit. But maybe this is no biggie. I think I will be more mindful of what side people drive their dinks from.... just out of curiosity.

The point was, driving like that, sitting on the stbd side, basically facing port, means that boats approaching from stbd, that you have to give way to, are coming from behind your back, and are difficult to see.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by zstine

The OP presumes twisting the throttle forward, away is 'backwards'. He must be a motorcycle rider...? I too ride, but I sit to port and operate with my right hand and I just get used to throttle opposite the bike. I don't think that there is a right or wrong way to twist the throttle, just different.

a lifetime of motorcycle riding has taught me to twist towards me - can't be unlearned at my advanced age

[knockabout]

we are intelligent creatures / train yourself to use what ever is there / bombardier bought out omc so outboard tillers are probably designed by females for the reason mentioned in an earlier post

[Martkimwat]

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!

I'm with you on this Suijin, I'm also a southpaw!

[JPA Cate]

In these pics, I see a lot of people sitting inside the Stbd tube, whereas, Jim and I both sit on the port pontoon to steer. I think we are dealing with different sized dinghies here, ours is 3.5 m.

When the dinghy is bigger things change. Often the motor is bigger, as well Ours is only 15, small by Bulawayo's standards, but it is a heck of a lot bigger than a 5 plus or minus, and I think people who are trying to figure out what they want to do dinghy-wise, been to look at those variables, too.

Ann

[DDabs]

Im right handed, so i like to steer the tiller with my right hand while sitting on the port tube. Everything else feels weird to me