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Author Topic:   Outboard Tillers and Handedness

cgodfrey posted 12-03-2009 05:22 AM ET (US)
I was perusing Craigslist, and was drawn to ad for a ZONGSHEN brand outboard, as I had never seen or even heard of that brand. I noticed that the tiller was center-mounted, and angled to port, rather than offset-mounted on the port side, as on every other tiller steered outboard I've ever seen. As tends to happen, my brain hatched several inane, but burning questions which I will now burden you with.
Why are outboard tillers mounted on the port side? Can I assume it's due to the frequency of right-handedness? Are there any outboards that deviate from this (defacto) rule of port side tiller handles?
When left-handed people operate a tiller-steered outboard, is it at all counter-intuitive?
I think I could sit opposite the way I normally do, and steer an outboard with my right hand, but as for the body mechanics of my startup procedure:
--Left hand on motor hood for leverage/stability
--Right (my dominant) hand on starter rope handle
--Yank, if ignition, release handle
--Adjust throttle with right hand
--Disengage choke with left hand
Just thinking about trying to do it with the opposite hand makes me uncomfortable.
CG
cgodfrey posted 12-03-2009 05:35 AM ET (US)
I guess a third inane question would be
If you've lost use of your left arm for whatever reason, can you operate a tiller-steered outboard comfortably?
R T M posted 12-03-2009 07:28 AM ET (US)
I always thought you operated a tiller motor with your left hand, and sat to the right of the outboard, looking forward. That would put you in roughly the same position as if you were sitting behind a steering wheel, on the starboard side which counters the torque of the motor, and makes the boat ride level, side to side. Steering with your right hand must put you in the extreme corner of the boat.
rich/Binkie
jimh posted 12-03-2009 08:07 AM ET (US)
The standard tiller arrangement will tend to put the operator on the starboard side of the boat, where he can better look out for vessels approaching on that side. Navigation Rule 15 requires, in part:
"When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way...."
fishgutz posted 12-03-2009 08:17 AM ET (US)
If you were a sailor, it wouldn't matter.
ConB posted 12-03-2009 09:37 AM ET (US)
I have not thought about this before, but finally something made for us left handed people.
The new tiller steered E-TECs state that the horizontal tiller angle is adjustable.
Con
contender posted 12-03-2009 02:39 PM ET (US)
Maybe Ralph Evinrude was a lefty ????. I think it just something you get use to and after a while you do not give it a second thought...
Tohsgib posted 12-03-2009 02:58 PM ET (US)
Most newer tillers are more to the center, personally I prefer it far to the portside. If you have a center or starboard tiller it makes it very difficult to make an extreme port turn as the tiller will hit you in the chest. If it is far to the port, it makes it easier plus you are not sitting on the gunwale to be comfortable. I think however that the center tiller models are better suited for inflatables where you are actually sitting on the gunwale or sponson. My first boat was a tiller and owned a few since, kind of like a motorcycle, it is just natural to drive that way. I will however state that a tiller engine can fatigue you much easier as your body is not straight and your left are gets tired. Then again it is taking me a while to get used to the tiller mounted shift lever, although more functional, not the norm or what I am used to. As a last point I doubt a one armed driver would be comfortable with any tiller configuration.
Tohsgib posted 12-03-2009 03:00 PM ET (US)
PS...I have been riding motorcycles since a child. years back a friend bought an old Harley that had the shifter on the starboard side, not port. EVERY time I went to brake I would downshift it. Like Contender said you don't give it a second thought...until it is reversed on you.
number9 posted 12-03-2009 03:41 PM ET (US)
Since it's a right handed world possibly to be able to hold on to the boat better with the typically stronger right hand grip.

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Author	Topic: Outboard Tillers and Handedness
cgodfrey	posted 12-03-2009 05:22 AM ET (US) I was perusing Craigslist, and was drawn to ad for a ZONGSHEN brand outboard, as I had never seen or even heard of that brand. I noticed that the tiller was center-mounted, and angled to port, rather than offset-mounted on the port side, as on every other tiller steered outboard I've ever seen. As tends to happen, my brain hatched several inane, but burning questions which I will now burden you with. Why are outboard tillers mounted on the port side? Can I assume it's due to the frequency of right-handedness? Are there any outboards that deviate from this (defacto) rule of port side tiller handles? When left-handed people operate a tiller-steered outboard, is it at all counter-intuitive? I think I could sit opposite the way I normally do, and steer an outboard with my right hand, but as for the body mechanics of my startup procedure: --Left hand on motor hood for leverage/stability --Right (my dominant) hand on starter rope handle --Yank, if ignition, release handle --Adjust throttle with right hand --Disengage choke with left hand Just thinking about trying to do it with the opposite hand makes me uncomfortable. CG
cgodfrey	posted 12-03-2009 05:35 AM ET (US) I guess a third inane question would be If you've lost use of your left arm for whatever reason, can you operate a tiller-steered outboard comfortably?
R T M	posted 12-03-2009 07:28 AM ET (US) I always thought you operated a tiller motor with your left hand, and sat to the right of the outboard, looking forward. That would put you in roughly the same position as if you were sitting behind a steering wheel, on the starboard side which counters the torque of the motor, and makes the boat ride level, side to side. Steering with your right hand must put you in the extreme corner of the boat. rich/Binkie
jimh	posted 12-03-2009 08:07 AM ET (US) The standard tiller arrangement will tend to put the operator on the starboard side of the boat, where he can better look out for vessels approaching on that side. Navigation Rule 15 requires, in part: "When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way...."
fishgutz	posted 12-03-2009 08:17 AM ET (US) If you were a sailor, it wouldn't matter.
ConB	posted 12-03-2009 09:37 AM ET (US) I have not thought about this before, but finally something made for us left handed people. The new tiller steered E-TECs state that the horizontal tiller angle is adjustable. Con
contender	posted 12-03-2009 02:39 PM ET (US) Maybe Ralph Evinrude was a lefty ????. I think it just something you get use to and after a while you do not give it a second thought...
Tohsgib	posted 12-03-2009 02:58 PM ET (US) Most newer tillers are more to the center, personally I prefer it far to the portside. If you have a center or starboard tiller it makes it very difficult to make an extreme port turn as the tiller will hit you in the chest. If it is far to the port, it makes it easier plus you are not sitting on the gunwale to be comfortable. I think however that the center tiller models are better suited for inflatables where you are actually sitting on the gunwale or sponson. My first boat was a tiller and owned a few since, kind of like a motorcycle, it is just natural to drive that way. I will however state that a tiller engine can fatigue you much easier as your body is not straight and your left are gets tired. Then again it is taking me a while to get used to the tiller mounted shift lever, although more functional, not the norm or what I am used to. As a last point I doubt a one armed driver would be comfortable with any tiller configuration.
Tohsgib	posted 12-03-2009 03:00 PM ET (US) PS...I have been riding motorcycles since a child. years back a friend bought an old Harley that had the shifter on the starboard side, not port. EVERY time I went to brake I would downshift it. Like Contender said you don't give it a second thought...until it is reversed on you.
number9	posted 12-03-2009 03:41 PM ET (US) Since it's a right handed world possibly to be able to hold on to the boat better with the typically stronger right hand grip.