Anyone know why boats steer from the right side or center and cars/trucks steer from the left side?

from ask.com

The origin of term comes from old boating practices. Before boats had rudders on their centerline, boats were steered by use of a specialized oar. This oar was held by a sailor located towards the stern (back) of the boat. However, like most of the rest of society, there were many more right-handed sailors than left-handed sailors. This meant that the right-handed sailors holding the steering oar (which had been broadened to provide better control) used to stand on the right side of the boat. The word starboard is a corruption of steering board, which in turn came from the old Norse language word st[ch65533]ri, in the language of the vikings.

Similarly, the term for the left side of the boat, port, is derived from the practice of sailors mooring on the left side (i.e., the Portboard side) as to prevent the steering boards from being crushed. Because the words portboard and starboard sounded too similar to be distingued under windy sailing conditions, portboard was shortened to port.

The starboad side of most naval vessels the world over is designated the 'senior' side. The officers' gangway or sea ladder is shipped on this side and this side of the quarterdeck is reserved for the captain. The flag or pennant of the ship's captain or senior officer in command is generally hoist on the starboard yard.

Cart - while that was an interesting read and we Thank You for finding it ... I might need to go there and offer a correction. Unless the info is really ancient, Starboard side refers to the side of a ship from which  navagational bearings were taken using a sextant. Using Stars.

Personally, I think that that modern boats are steered from the Right because the steering linkage on outboard motors is on the Right. Or maybe I got that mixed up and it's because you want your fishing partner to your left where you can see him with your good eye.

Difficult question.  

The reason the boat's helm is on the right side is to counter the torque of the prop in the water and to keep the boat level by using the drivers weight.

cars in england, japan and austrailia steer from the right. Only because they drive on the left of the road and it gives the diver a better view of oncoming traffic.

and if you look around you'll find some boats that have port side steering.

RobE, if you look at boats set up with stick steering, the steering lever is on the port side and the throttle/shift is on the starboard side. It has nothing to do with the linkage being on the right side, it can be rigged on either side since the motor connection is at the center.

Wayne. My dry humor plum evaded you. huh?  

Here's another explanation that sounds more logical:

The steering wheel or helm is usually installed on the right hand side of a vessel at sea. This is because the international "rules of the road at sea" require you to give way to other vessels approaching from your right hand side. The helm is so placed to ensure better visibility to the right hand or starboard side of the boat. There is no legal requirement, it is just usual practice.