Helm-which side?

[Pikey Dave]

I'm in the planning stages of laying out the console on the next boat. I've always had diving RIBS with a single seat, wheel in the middle, throttles to the left, so I steer with my right hand & throttle with my left. The new boat will have side by side seats so the helm will be offset. Now, common sense would say put the helm to the port side as we drive "on the wrong side" on the sea, but the majority of boats that I see, have the helm on the stbd side, discuss.....

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I'm in the planning stages of laying out the console on the next boat. I've always had diving RIBS with a single seat, wheel in the middle, throttles to the left, so I steer with my right hand & throttle with my left. The new boat will have side by side seats so the helm will be offset. Now, common sense would say put the helm to the port side as we drive "on the wrong side" on the sea, but the majority of boats that I see, have the helm on the stbd side, discuss.....

Important!...STARBOURED mounted Helm..Throttle positioned to the LEFT of Wheel spaced so you can operate it from the Base!!...Not just the Top!...which can be VERY DODGEY in a Heavy Sea!!.Steeering Right handed....to suit YOUR seating and standing positions.Take as long as you need to Make sure you get this 100% right....Before you drill or cut anything!
SORTED

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Important!...STARBOURED mounted Helm..Throttle positioned to the LEFT of Wheel spaced so you can operate it from the Base!!...Not just the Top!...which can be VERY DODGEY in a Heavy Sea!!.Steeering Right handed....to suit YOUR seating and standing positions.Take as long as you need to Make sure you get this 100% right....Before you drill or cut anything!
SORTED

That's how I was going to lay it out, it feels "natural," but it just seems odd that it's on the wrong logical side with regard to boats passing port to port. Also with the throttles in the middle of the console, there's less chance of it being knocked by someone squeezing past the console, & if it goes horribly wrong, it's easy for the navigator to reach. IIRC planes have the pilot's seat on the left.

[scubaqua]

I placed my console a bit off-set on the boat so it is possible to better pass by at one side. The other side i never passby to the front.
At the "wide side" is also the steering.

I placed the console offset starboardside, and my steering is at portside of the console. Throttles are about in the middle of the console..

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

That's how I was going to lay it out, it feels "natural," but it just seems odd that it's on the wrong logical side with regard to boats passing port to port. Also with the throttles in the middle of the console, there's less chance of it being knocked by someone squeezing past the console, & if it goes horribly wrong, it's easy for the navigator to reach. IIRC planes have the pilot's seat on the left.

You'll find it no problem at all Dave....just a matter of getting used to a slightly differnt layout than you're used to...if it feels "natural"go for it!
Side by side seating makes you more social too.....Hang about!...maybe you will find it a bit of a wrench!!
After all...Not too many Ribs out there with the Yorkshireman seating configuration! ie..."ONE seat fort Driver an Bugger t'rest!"

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by scubaqua

I placed my console a bit off-set on the boat so it is possible to better pass by at one side. The other side i never passby to the front.
At the "wide side" is also the steering.

I placed the console offset starboardside, and my steering is at portside of the console. Throttles are about in the middle of the console..

You've obviously put a lot of thought into you layout,and got it right for you!..which is definatly the way to go
I've seen some lovely high end boats,with great spec,totally spoil thier handing with bad ergonomics,and would recommend anyone to do the same,and take thier time to get it right! Once you put that jigsaw..or whatever into your shiny new consul...there's no going back!
Passing on Dave's new Ribcraft isn't a problem...plenty of room either side.

[willk]

IMO, the helm position (port or starboard) doesn't make any difference. I think it's a product of our car layouts and therefore relates to the side of the road we drive, not the side of the channel - ironic or what?

The layout may come down to which hand you prefer to use for throttle/wheel - although again, I think that's related to our cars. When driving a LH stickshift, it always feels odd for a day or so. Having said that, I probably have better dexterity in my right hand/arm for working the gears/throttle controls.

In my personal experience, you quickly adapt to any helm/throttle combination, but as Maxi says, you'll never adapt to bad ergonomics*, so get that right.


* You might, but the results won't be pretty

[Dirk Diggler]

Quite often the helm placement is dictated by the remote control, some aren't designed for left handed use, where's the trim buttons on yours?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Quite often the helm placement is dictated by the remote control, some aren't designed for left handed use, where's the trim buttons on yours?

Good question, I've not seen it yet

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Good question, I've not seen it yet

No problem there on the New ######!
What is it again!??

[scubaqua]

I had central seated jockey at my previous boat with controls fitted to the side. because i wanted cetral controls I had to buy new ones..
Happy I did it.
---
What i found out, is that in the rest of Europe most boats have their wheel at starboard side in the UK at Port side.
I think it has to with the "used to drive side" that the steering is near to the shore.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by scubaqua

that the steering is near to the shore.

do you only do circumnavigations?

[scubaqua]

My english is not so good i understand you well...

[Lee argyle]

Works well and out of the way

[jeffstevens763@g]

My helm is to starboard I am right handed so holding the wheel in that hand best for me the throttle nearly centre which is handy if the s--t hit the fan for the shotgun rider to pull back to neutral.once had a side mounted throttle pain in the bum passing with life jacket straps etc getting caught.

[Pikey Dave]

thanks for all the input fellas, looks like it will be as I had imagined, helm on stbd side, wheel on right, throttle on left. Just need a boat now

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

thanks for all the input fellas, looks like it will be as I had imagined, helm on stbd side, wheel on right, throttle on left. Just need a boat now

A major consideration is also balance of the boat, if you are planning on regular use with a single person then it would be best to keep the helm Starboard to offset Prop Torque.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Chris

A major consideration is also balance of the boat, if you are planning on regular use with a single person then it would be best to keep the helm Starboard to offset Prop Torque.

Good point

[RMS]

I have two boats, both with double console and one has the wheel on left, the other on the right. Both have the throttle in the middle, but the one with the wheel on the left is offset to put the driver more or less in the middle of the boat, leaving a wider gap to get to the bow on the port side (as Scubanut describes). I actually prefer the wheel on the left and throttle with my right hand, but as has been said you easily get used to either and the preference is pretty marginal. However the Suzuki binnacle throttle only seems to come with the PTT on the left which means it's in the wrong place for your left hand thumb to operate and perfect (as designed) for your right.

[RMS]

Apols meant scubaqua..