In article
e.rogers.com,
"Icebound" wrote:

"Stan Gosnell" wrote in message
...
... Flying from the
left seat has never made any sense at all to me. ...

Exactly. Boats have their helm on the right, so that helmspersons (choke)
can more easily observe the traffic in their "give-way" zone, the RIGHT.
Its the same rules for aircraft, but from the left seat you have a much more
restricted view of that side.

Some boats have their helm on the right. Generally small powerboats.
Larger boats tend to have them on the centerline.

Launches (the small powerboats that take people from a dock out to a
boat on a mooring) almost always have the helm on the left (port) side.
Why? Because they come up to the starboard side of the moored boat, and
it makes it easier for the launch driver to be on the port side, towards
the boat he's approaching. Why do they come up to the starboard side of
the moored boat? Well, I'm not sure, but the explanation I've heard is
that the head (i.e. toilet) discharge is usually on the port side, which
seems like a pretty good reason to me.

Boats often have multiple helm stations. Sometimes there's one up on
the flybridge for use in good weather, and another down below where you
can stay warm and dry. Workboats often have a secondary helm station
near the stern, so you can control the boat while back there pulling in
fishing nets or whatever.