Why are boat steering wheels on the right?

[RUGER]

Granted with time this has changed ie: Center consoles but...
Your useless information of the day is:

Modern Explanation According to the column "The Straight Dope," the steering wheel is on the right side of power boats for mechanical reasons. Boat propellers spin clockwise and the torque on the propeller caused the right side of older model boat hulls to rise out of the water.

 

[Specializedjon]

Between this and the railroad spacing information, I'm gonna be VERY annoying over supper tonight.

 

[Dbllunger]

Well I'll be danged. I guess it makes perfect sense now that I think about it. Many years ago I had my private pilots license and flew Cessna 172s. On takeoffs and climbing out the prop of the plane would make the plane want to pull left. Always had to trim the rudder just a little to compensate

 

[WTM]

i guess that was pre-mcdonalds and they never weighed 250-300 pounds. feels like sometimes im running on two wheels when idling by myself.

 

[Dbllunger]

Between this and the railroad spacing information, I'm gonna be VERY annoying over supper tonight.

I just assumed that was every night!

 

[Specializedjon]

I just assumed that was every night!

Well played

 

[UCStandSitter]

Between this and the railroad spacing information, I'm gonna be VERY annoying over supper tonight.

How is this different?

EDIT: Dang. I see someone beat me to this...

 

[Specializedjon]

If me and @rem270 were to leave, y'all would have nobody to poke fun at.

Well.... @gasman gets his fair share I suppose.

 

[DaveTN]

The ships I was on in the Navy almost always docked to the Starboard side. That would have been my guess as to why. But now I learned the truth.

 

[West_Tn]

If you ever drive a high performance bass boat you will see why. The forces from the prop make the boat want to chine walk. Driver weight helps counter act to a degree.

 

[TRIGGER]

Always wondered just never thought a lot about it. Thanks.

 

[MickThompson]

port and starboard sides were designated prior to outboard motors. I'd say that outboards turn the direction they do because of which side the operator would traditionally sit to operate the tiller (rudder).