Which side of boat to operate tiller?

[rigi36]

Which side of the boat are you supposed to sit on to operate the tiller on an outboard?
Opposite the tiller or the same side?

Thanks

[Starovich]

imho
depends on the outboard.
You need to be able to see and operate the gear shift without reaching round the engine.

If the tiller is on the port side, then sit on the starboard, unless the gear is on the tiller too (mercs did this on some), then its up to you.

Some now have the gear and the tiller all on the front, in which case if you can safely reach the gear then its up to you.

[azzurro]

Depends on the propeller.
Torque may tend to lift the starboard. If so, sit there.

[captnjack]

Are you in a right hand or left hand drive country?

[John Kennett]

I always sit on the port side, as I've never got the hang of driving with my left hand on the tiller.

[chris123]

The gear lever is on the starboard side of my outboard, so I sit on the starboard side to drive.

Cheers

Chris

[martini]

You're generally meant to sit on the stbd side, so the gear lever's handy and the tiller doesn't catch your knee so much when turning to port.

But if you have a fairly wide boat like me then the tiller becomes too far away.

So my solution is when manoeuvring etc I sit stbd and underway I go port side.

Just need to think about which way to twist the throttle, can get a bit confusing

[willk]

Originally Posted by martini

Just need to think about which way to twist the throttle, can get a bit confusing

Aye, I understand that if you use your left hand, it feels like someone else....

[Turbodiesel]

I sit on which ever side the gear lever is on!

[spartacus]

On my old Zodiac GT, powered by a Yamaha short-shaft 25hp, I sat on the tubes on the port side and jammed my boots under the tubes on the opposite side. It had an HD (aluminium floor) always felt safe and had great manoeuvrability. I don't personally see the argument for sitting on the same side as the gear-change lever. You're usually at trolling speeds for gear-changes anyway, so moving isn't hazardous.

[martini]

Originally Posted by willk

Aye, I understand that if you use your left hand, it feels like someone else....

I have heard this also...

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by spartacus

I don't personally see the argument for sitting on the same side as the gear-change lever. You're usually at trolling speeds for gear-changes anyway, so moving isn't hazardous.

I come from a sail and windsurf teaching background so have spent lots of time with people/gear in the water and i completely disagree, anything that can get in the way or cause a false gear change could be literally fatal.

[azzurro]

My outboard engine has a pull starter. I use my right hand to pull as I'm right handed. I find it more comfortable to pull start with the outboard engine straight, but I guess that you can pull with the engine completely turned.

Whatever you do, do not pull start with same hand as kill cord. I have seen it many times and man, it is an old joke but still funny, sort of Buster Keaton gag.

Regarding left hand and seating, it's a popular advice seating on the left hand to have it numb. Creativity is unlimited: noisy bracelets, nail polish and so. Some people have such a rich inner life.

[willk]

Originally Posted by azzurro

Regarding left hand and seating, it's a popular advice seating on the left hand to have it numb. Creativity is unlimited: noisy bracelets, nail polish and so. Some people have such a rich inner life.

So it would appear!

[9D280]

A lot of the newer engines have the gearshift centre front anyway, so the Port / Stbd thing becomes a matter of preference or if a beamy boat whether you can reach it or not from one side or t'other!

I personally prefer starboard if beam allows, simply because the torque pulls it away from you, and I find it easier to "hang on" to the tiller than "push it back to centre".


Chaq'un a son gout, as our continental colleagues say..... albeit probably spelt correctly.