Just askin -- must have something to do with the Brits???

My guess it was some body's wife's idea  ;D

It's funny that you ask that! I was asking someone that same thing just the other day, and still we have no answer

Life is so baffling at times.

The modern interpretation is:

"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. Boat designers placed the steering wheel on the right so that the weight of the boat's operator would keep the boat even in the water."

Most saltwater boats in the 17 - 22 foot range are center consoles, with the wheel in the middle.

Most New England lobsterboats are operated from the starboard side.  I suspect it's because most folks are right handed, and when a trap gets to the rail, it's more natural for a right hander to "break" the trap over the rail with the right hand, and clear the line from the fairlead (******) block with the left hand.

Even the crab boats on deadliest catch are rigged to haul from the starboard side.

The 13 foot Boston Whalers that have a steering wheel are right handed.  The larger versions, 15 feet and up are center console.

That is enough to make me go hmmmmmmm.

sure....if all else fails blame the british

I wonder if it is because most lakes the proper pattern of movement is counter-clockwise if I recall from boating with my Grandpa. In my eyes it would be more advantagous to have the steering wheel facing the majority of area to traverse which would be the right side of the boat. I really have no idea it was just a thought.

The modern interpretation is:

"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. Boat designers placed the steering wheel on the right so that the weight of the boat's operator would keep the boat even in the water."

Yep x2