Which side do you sit on?

lightning · 13 August 2009, 15:45

Is there a "right" or "wrong" side to sit when operating an outboard motor with a tiller handle?
I was out on the boat today and an old guy walking his dog engaged me in conversation as I stopped to raise a bridge. He said I was sitting on the "wrong" side of the engine (operating the tiller with my right arm) and should really be on the other side.
Thanks for the advice I said and I did try sitting on the other side but it was much harder to control the throttle/steer with my left arm pretty much at full stretch to reach it.
However the engine forward/reverse control was easier to get at, being on the same side now as me. So is the old duffer right?

Poly · 13 August 2009, 15:57

Has been discussed here before. I think its a bit like which side is the best for the throttle on your console - its personal choice. When I used to steer a tiller outboard - I sat on the starboard side so I could access the gears on the starboard side.

chewy · 13 August 2009, 15:58

I used to sit on the port side so I could control the throttle with my right hand.
Now I sit on the starboard side as thats where the gear change is.
You do get used to it eventually.

jyasaki · 13 August 2009, 16:17

I used to sit on starboard, as that put the left hand on the throttle, leaving the right hand (I'm right-handed) free to mess up the GPS and work the radio and stuff.

jky

m chappelow · 13 August 2009, 16:27

i tend to swap about a bit ,,,

oujakov · 13 August 2009, 17:06

I sit in the middle, on the bench seat.

RibinSpain · 13 August 2009, 18:02

I sit on the side so I face the beach so both sides, alternating is good for the arm muscles.

Here is my usual position.

lightning · 13 August 2009, 18:27

Look at that cloudless sky on your picture....you lucky sod!

thornbackflound · 13 August 2009, 18:36

I sit on the left sponsom on mine im right handed and seems most comfotable for me,bit naughty really,but them when achored up we both sit on the centre Twart to fish

oujakov · 13 August 2009, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by RibinSpain

I sit on the side so I face the beach so both sides, alternating is good for the arm muscles.

Here is my usual position.

Nice keds!

AllenF · 13 August 2009, 22:28

TOP SIDE (starboard me thinks)
tried sitting on bottom got VERY WET very cold and had visibility issues

1ThOFA87 · 14 August 2009, 01:05

When I got my SIB I worried that since I'm right handed, it would feel awkward sitting on the starboard side and steering with my left arm. It only felt odd for about two outings then it was like second nature. No worries! Either way you'll adjust.

RibinSpain · 14 August 2009, 13:23

cheers guys.

Yes its bleeding boiling here in Spain. I spend about the same on factor 50 sun lotion than on fuel & oil mix.

Here's another pic from yesterday.

Anyone out this way just pm me, you are more than welcome to come snorkelling.

Locozodiac · 15 August 2009, 15:57

For some will depend entirely if you are left or right handed.

Port : close position to tiller, throttle, not close to shift gear, won't see tail-tale, this issue can be dangerous if sibbing in poluted waters, kelp, collecting plastic bags, etc, along the way, portable engines are the most often used in sibs, don't have overheat alarms, so watch for this issue if sibbing in these kind of waters on port position.

Starboard : Close to shift gear, will see tail-tale , probaly far away from tiller, throttle if driven by a teenager or worst if the sib happens to be a wide version.

A nice sitting position would be starboard seated inside sib with back against tube driving with extended left hand, if having an air deck fine, if wooden or aluminum floor place life vest or any soft cushion under your humanity for a better cruise. Find inside position to be more confortable for most people specially kids, than sitting on tubes for long periods of sibbing cruises.

Have placed a 360 air matt inflated to half pressure on top my 380 alum floor, is the most confortable thing that have experimented so far, can sit sibbing for long hours with no back pains. The only issue is that you'll need to be quite tall, along with quick plane to be inmediately horizontal to see what's happening in bow front. A spare air matt can cost near $ 200, but it's worth the investment, passengers will also appreciate it. Can place a cutted thin carpet that matches sib interior shape to protect better the air matt.

Happy Sibbing

SeaSkills · 16 August 2009, 08:11

As a general rule (and like all general rules it's not exact), you'll have more boat control if you learn to sit on the same side as the tiller - which on most engines is also likely to give you the best access to the gear lever. That doesn't work unless you have room to sit far enough forward that you can swing the tiller towards you to it's full extent. If you have to sit so far back in the boat that you're obstructing the tiller movement, switch to the other side.

In poor conditions, if there's room to do so, kneeling on the floor rather than sitting on the tube will give you better protection

GandyGoose · 18 August 2009, 13:10

Sitting to Starboard the throttle's more natural as it has the same control sense as a motorcycle. To Port the tiller steering's more natural.

Also, which way would your boat steer if you released the tiller? It might make sense to sit on the side it would steer towards. I once spectacularly lost control of an inflatable by making too sudden throttle and/or steering movements, and ended up lying on the floor of the boat while it roared round in a circle, before I regained control. If I'd been sitting on the other side then I'd have been thrown overboard.

Tony S

m chappelow · 18 August 2009, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by GandyGoose

Sitting to Starboard the throttle's more natural as it has the same control sense as a motorcycle. To Port the tiller steering's more natural.

Also, which way would your boat steer if you released the tiller? byTony S

if you let go from straight ahead and the steerings set up light the engine will usually go in the opposite direction that the prop turns ,though a lot depends on what type and how the prop pitch is,and how heavy the engine flywheel is ,most seem to go to port

MikeP · 18 August 2009, 20:47

I've naturally gravitated towards port (being a right handed fella).... the couple of times I tried starboard, it felt really weird - although, as noted above, I could see the telltale and the gear shift was more convenient.

I'm going to give starboard another go after reading this thread - I guess you can get used to it.

willk · 18 August 2009, 21:37

oh for God's sake, what side do we sit on.....yada yada yada, here:

I sit on the right side

Codprawn sits on the traditional side
Polwart sits on the other side
JSP sits a Little Bit on the Side
Bigmuz7 sits on the smart a-side
Bam Bam sits on the river side
Limey Linda sits on the far side
Bogib sits on de Northside (inside Irish gag

)
His Administratorship, John Kennett, doesn't take sides
and Mollers sits on the Dark Side.

astra · 18 August 2009, 22:08

The middle