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

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Sure. And being CF, there's always going to be loads of opinions, references to cars, aircraft, bicycles, horses etc...... hence 100 posts....

Anyway, it's fixed on our dinghy, you drive from a seat, facing forward. Much more comfortable and safer IMO.

how true, the helipad generally gets in the way on our dinghy if we sit on the port side - not to mention the stables (those horses don't like anyone taking up any of their space.)
And when my wife starts bicycling on that side it can get a bit crowded-

You must have a big dinghy - sitting on our seat would make steering difficult

[JPA Cate]

carsten,

I don't know how large 44'cruisingcat's console dinghy is. I have driven one, not his. I didn't like it because there were too many turns lock to lock for convenient steering, especially when used as a shore boat for a sailing club.

Our dinghy is a 3.5 metre RIB, with a 15 hp Yamaha 2 stroke o/b, and tiller steered, so the steering is fast and accurate. There are occasions when it is a bit of a handful, but we really like our big dinghies, have had one (sorry) 13 ft. or thereabouts since the beginning of our cruising. In Mexico (our first foreign destination) it let us go skin diving at sites 5 miles (oops!) away from the anchorage. It was wise to carry a spare prop.

Cheers, and enjoy.

Ann & Jim

[Hudson Force]

I was just thinking about how my position in our dinghy changes depending on the situation.

When it's just me in the dinghy, I'm usually center forward on the cross member seat with the tiller extension and able to plane.

When Nancie's in the dinghy with me, I'm usually on the right tube and she's on the left. Occasionally I'll ask her if there's any traffic behind me before I turn to starboard.

When I'm in the dinghy with two folded bicycles, laundry or groceries, I'm often on the dinghy floor keeping my weight low.

What never changes is my habit of keeping the outboard kill switch tethered to my wrist, ankle or belt! Most of us that have spent a length of time cruising have seen someone's ghastly injury when run over by their dinghy.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by carstenb

how true, the helipad generally gets in the way on our dinghy if we sit on the port side - not to mention the stables (those horses don't like anyone taking up any of their space.)
And when my wife starts bicycling on that side it can get a bit crowded-

You must have a big dinghy - sitting on our seat would make steering difficult

It's a 3.5m RIB, has two benches across it's width. The aft one is a just far enough forward to clear the tiller to tilt the motor, and is well positioned for driving the dinghy.

[a64pilot]

I always or almost always sit on the Starboard tube, except when by myself and going fast, its a 3.1M and 20 HP so it is pretty quick, honestly all over 30 kts. When I am going fast, I usually kneel in the center.
Except for that one time in Garrison Bight mooring field, when this guy had to show me his CC was faster than my dink, he passed behind me so I never saw him, but when I hit his wake, it started chine walking, motor came loose and eventually off, tossed me out losing a $400 pair of prescription glasses. Only found my wallet when I noticed it floating by.

Probably had 25 boats pass me while I was loading the motor back into the dinghy and rowing to my boat, and I'm sure several had to see me get tossed out, yet none stopped to help.

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Probably had 25 boats pass me while I was loading the motor back into the dinghy and rowing to my boat, and I'm sure several had to see me get tossed out, yet none stopped to help.

Probably to busy uploading to YouTube....

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Probably had 25 boats pass me while I was loading the motor back into the dinghy and rowing to my boat, and I'm sure several had to see me get tossed out, yet none stopped to help.

WOW! I cannot believe that their was not immediate help!

Sorry bunch of boaters!

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

...... and I thought the tradition was the opposite with the term "port" originating from the side of the boat put to the dock (the port).

Correct. Because the "steer board" - steering oar - was starboard. Definitely from the larboard or port side.

Sent from my D6633 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[s/v michaela]

whichever side is leeward.... the driest side when the wind blows!!!!