Why "port And Starboard" Instead Of "left And Right"?

[RSDonovan]

As a landlubber, I always have to think about which way is Port and which is Starboard. Is there a reason that nautical folk use terms for which there are alternatives which everyone knows intuitively?

[Canary42]

Knot that I know of :-)

[sandyRoe]

I think port used to be called larboard. Don't know why, though

[emmie]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_a_boats_left_side_called_port_side

[B00]

http://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/sea-and-ships/facts/faqs/customs-and-origins/port-and-starboard

[BlueToffee]

We've just booked our first cruise, our bedroom is near the front of the boat on the right hand side!

[dustypuss]

HTH

http://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/sea-and-ships/facts/faqs/customs-and-origins/port-and-starboard

[sandyRoe]

Your cabins in the starboard fo'castle, BlueToffee

[wardlaw]

No need to post such a stern reply BlueToffee ;)

[FredPuli43]

Port is the side which you bring to the quayside, starboard is the side on which , in simple boats, the board which you steered with was; boats were formerly steered by a paddle over the side. Most people are right-handed so that's the right-hand side, facing forwards

[BlueToffee]

Thank you sandyRoe, and apologies wardlaw.

[RSDonovan]

I'm not totally convinced by any of the references given, but I guess the most likely one is that it avoids confusion; ie left and right depend on which way you're looking, but port and starboard remain constant - except in the case where the boat rolls over! Thanks for your answers.

[Ellipsis]

> I always have to think about which way is Port and which is Starboard

Port is passed to the left.
Starboard has two Rs, so it's more "Right".

I think the problem on a boat is the "whose left" problem. When person A is facing the stern, talking to person B facing the side of the boat, and they say "Grab that rope on the left", whose left are they talking about? In other words, "left" and "right" are fluffy, unclear, relative terms - "port" and "starboard" are perfectly clear absolute terms.

[RSDonovan]

Fred ... That doesn't explain why they didn't just use left and right, does it?

[BlueToffee]

In the event of the ship rolling on its port side RSD, does that mean then, the funnel becomes Port and the belly Starboard?

[McMouse]

I'm all at sea on this one. Not shore what it's about.

[RSDonovan]

Good question Blue Toffee, I have no idea of the answer!

[wardlaw]

No I'm sorry BlueToffee - It was meant to be funny with a play on the word 'stern' as in the back of a boat but it failed miserably.

[FredPuli43]

It does RSD, for the reason already given. It doesn't matter where you are and which way you are facing on a ship, starboard can only refer to right facing in one direction. Right otherwise can be anybody's right hand- side.

Some of us are old enough to still use "near side" and "off side" for a car; those, too, can only refer to one 'left' and one 'right'

[emmie]

would have thought there was enough links which give the answer...
and i don't think it is intuitive, left, right many get confused... i have known people to write the letters L and R on their hands because they can't remember...

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Its easy to remember......Port has 4 letters and so does left.